Tavolara & La Maddalena · Italy · Pinnacle · Reef
I Picchi
Twin granite spires breaking the surface, with an arch at 26 m
I Picchi are two granite pinnacles off the coast of Caprera that rise from the seabed to within centimetres of the surface. An arch lies at 26 m, and schools of amberjack, bonito, barracuda and dentex are often met on these northern Caprera dives.
Also known as I Pichi.
Where it is and how deep
41.2220° N, 9.4916° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The boat anchors on a 19 m bottom beside the two spires, which stand about thirty metres off the coast and climb vertically from the 30 m seabed. A beautiful arch lies at 26 m, and the blue around the spires is the place to watch for passing schools of amberjack and barracuda.
A current sometimes runs between the spires, but the granite offers plenty of ridges to shelter behind. Further out an outer shoal reaches 45 m, with gorgonians and many lobsters for divers trained to go that deep.
Marine life and season
- Trevally & jacks
- Barracuda
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Tavolara & La Maddalena: April to October is the main season; summer brings the clearest water, while winter wind and current cut visibility.
Dive videos
Immersione ai Picchi di Caprera ed i sommergibili · Circolo Subacqueo Mantovano on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is there current at I Picchi?+
Sometimes. When it runs, the many ridges in the granite give shelter, and the arch at 26 m stays within reach of Advanced Open Water divers.
Sources
- I Picchi dive site — ScubaGo
- Le immersioni di Caprera — scubaportal.it
More dive sites in Tavolara & La Maddalena
A sheltered lighthouse cove with gorgonians below
Reef
A steep drop to 40 m from an anchorage off the Caprera Fjord
A south-running swim along the Caprera coast past a rockslide
A full circuit of an offshore islet when the current eases
A large diesel engine sheltering congers and morays
A very wide shoal near Tahiti beach, with a buoy on 10 m
A buoyed reef from 6 m that can be dived as a drift
A gorgonian-clad pinnacle topping out at 15 m in open blue
Similar dives elsewhere
The sec du Pelu, renamed for the groupers that hold on it
Serpent stars that turn from black to red under a torch
A rock spine with a crest at 12 m and groupers along its length
A steep gorge to 25 m holding the remains of an old anchorage