Tavolara & La Maddalena · Italy · Reef
Mortoriotto
A full circuit of an offshore islet when the current eases
Photo: Gianni Careddu · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mortoriotto is a pair of islets lying north of the larger island of Mortorio, and the dive is made around the outermost of the two. Depths reach 40 m and strong currents can sweep the islet, so this is a site for divers holding Advanced Open Water or an equivalent certification.
0Where it is and how deep
41.0859° N, 9.6190° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive takes place around the outermost of the two islets, the one furthest from Mortorio. Unless strong currents are running, the whole islet can be circled underwater; when they are, the full circumnavigation is no longer possible. Depths around the islet reach 40 m.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| 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.
Know before you go
- Strong currents run around the islet and can rule out a full circumnavigation.
Dive videos
IMMERSIONE ALLE MACCHINE DI MORTORIOTTO · Hermes Budroni on YouTube
IMMERSIONE NOTTURNA MORTORIOTTO · Hermes Budroni on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is Mortoriotto a shore dive or a boat dive?+
A boat dive. The site is the outermost of the two Mortoriotto islets, north of the larger island of Mortorio.
Sources
- Mortoriotto dive site — ScubaGo
- Porto Rotondo area diving spots — Nautic Assistance
Photo credits
- A rocky granite island with green scrub on deep blue sea, a lone white sailing boat in front. by Gianni Careddu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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A 2 m to 41 m profile that suits both new and deep-trained divers