Tavolara & La Maddalena · Italy · Pinnacle · Pelagic & blue water
Secca del Papa 2
The deeper twin of Tavolara's Papa shoal, beyond a sandy channel
Photo: Mikołaj Kirschke · CC BY-SA 3.0
The second pinnacle of the Secca del Papa shoal off Tavolara is the deeper of the pair, its top at 24 m, and dives on the shoal run at 35 to 45 m. It is a deep dive in blue water, where amberjack, groupers, eagle rays and sunfish can be met around the gorgonians.
Also known as Tavolara - Secca del Papa 2, Papa 2.
Where it is and how deep
40.9128° N, 9.7453° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
A mooring buoy of its own marks this part of the shoal, set apart from the shallower pinnacle by a channel of sand. The descent ends on the top at 24 m, and the dive continues down the sides, at 35 to 45 m among yellow and red gorgonians and the great quantity of fish that gathers on the shoal.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
- Mola mola
- Eagle rays
- Trevally & jacks
| 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
- Even the top of this pinnacle lies at 24 m, so the whole dive is a deep one.
Dive videos
AMP Tavolara Secca del Papa 2 · Claudio Masala on YouTube
Questions divers ask
What separates the two pinnacles of Secca del Papa?+
A sandy channel divides the shoal into two parts. This second pinnacle is the deeper one, topping out at 24 m, and each part has its own mooring buoy.
Sources
- Tavolara - Secca del Papa 2 dive site — ScubaGo
- Migliori immersioni in Italia — Trend Online
- Area Marina Protetta — tavolaradiving.it
- Le 10 migliori immersioni in Italia — scubaportal.it
- Secca del Papa 2 — PADI
Photo credits
- The steep limestone mass of Tavolara island rising from calm blue sea under a clear sky. by Mikołaj Kirschke, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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