Underwater landscape Shoal
Average depth 21mt
Visibility Good / excellent
Current Weak / moderate
Marine Envirorment Coral, gorgonians, anemones, madrepores, posidonia
Marine Life Barracuda, grouper, snapper, amberjack, nudibranch, octopus, moray eel, lobster, lobster, rockfish
Carega Shoal
Its name derives from the fact that the upper part resembles a chair. This wonderful dive site is among the most loved in the protected marine area of Portofino due to the permanent presence of Barracuda banks. Anyone who dives is always enthusiastic. The top of the shoal is -5 meters deep. A canyon at -16 meters separates it from the Promontory. The depth range where it is easier to meet the fish is between -10 and -20 meters. The current makes the dive much more challenging but at the same time the surrounding environment is invaded by snappers, amberjacks, barracudas, damselfish, white breams, silversides, a real explosion of life!
The dive takes place around the shoal which reaches a depth of over 50 meters towards the open sea. In the various cracks you can meet lobsters, lobsters, octopuses, conger eels.
The red coral and the gorgonians can be admired beyond -30 meters. Schools of barracuda are always present and one cannot help but stop and observe them as they rise and fall along the wall of the shoal. The clouds of damselfish attract predators that come from the blue.
Dozens of saleps rise like a river from the posidonia, obscuring our view, while the brown groupers are always the undisputed protagonists of this submerged paradise.
The dive takes place around the shoal which reaches a depth of over 50 meters towards the open sea. In the various cracks you can meet lobsters, lobsters, octopuses, conger eels.
The red coral and the gorgonians can be admired beyond -30 meters. Schools of barracuda are always present and one cannot help but stop and observe them as they rise and fall along the wall of the shoal. The clouds of damselfish attract predators that come from the blue.
Dozens of saleps rise like a river from the posidonia, obscuring our view, while the brown groupers are always the undisputed protagonists of this submerged paradise.
RED PATH (up to -40 meters)
After the pre-dive check we will descend near the buoy from where we can already see the shape of the shoal which is EAST with respect to our position. With the wall on our left, turning counterclockwise, we will reach the maximum depth of -40 meters on the deepest side, facing the open sea. Usually during the descent you will encounter several barracudas swimming in circles. At -30 meters the first red gorgonians will appear.
Over the years there have been several sightings of large tuna, especially in the period of September when anchovies and silversides arrive.
We are going up to about -25 meters continuing to follow the course of the shoal. When we see large boulders appear we will be about to cross the canyon at -16 meters. Wherever large groupers enter and exit their burrows, swimming slowly, allowing divers to get close to a few meters. After crossing the Canyon we will bring ourselves to an altitude of -10 meters on the top of the shoal where the quantity of fish is infinite.
On the top of the shoal at 5/6 meters we will stop for 3 mn in the midst of thousands of damselfish and rivers of salpe that rise from the seabed. You would never want to get out of how beautiful it is!
GREEN PATH (up to -18 mt)
After the pre-dive check we will descend near the buoy from where we can already glimpse the shape of the shoal which is EAST with respect to our position.
We will start our tour by keeping the wall of the shoal to our left, turning counterclockwise. Walk the long side towards the open sea and we will see large boulders appear we will be about to cross the canyon at -16 meters. Wherever large groupers enter and exit their burrows, swimming slowly, allowing divers to get close to a few meters. After crossing the Canyon we will bring ourselves to an altitude of -10 meters on the top of the shoal where the quantity of fish is infinite.
On the top of the shoal at 5/6 meters we will stop for 3 mn in the midst of thousands of damselfish and rivers of salpe that rise from the seabed. You would never want to get out of how beautiful it is!
Cecilia Luconi
