Explore a Stunning Wall Dive with Rich Marine Life
Bigo is a spectacular dive site located on the eastern edge of Zone C in the Portofino Marine Protected Area, approximately 150 meters before the Portofino lighthouse. This site offers vibrant marine biodiversity, stunning terraced walls, and fascinating rock formations that make it ideal for both recreational and advanced divers.
With no mooring buoy available, boats drop anchor near the site. Bigo is best dived when the sea and winds come from the southwest, making it a perfect alternative when conditions prevent access beyond the lighthouse.
What You’ll See at Bigo
The seabed features a mix of terraced walls, crevices, and boulders, covered in:
- Red and yellow gorgonians
- Sponges and spirographs
- Colorful nudibranchs
Among the rocky formations and small caves, divers frequently encounter:
- Moray eels and conger eels
- Groupers, snappers, and sea bream
- Barracudas hunting among damselfish schools
- Monkfish (in winter), perfectly camouflaged on the seabed
Dive Routes at Bigo
🔴 Red Route (Depth: Up to -40m)
For experienced divers, this route offers a deeper exploration of the stunning wall and its hidden marine life.
- Descent: After anchoring, divers descend near the promontory to -8m, using the statue of a diver as a reference point. The statue, placed in 2001, honors Maurizio Fabrin, a beloved local boatman.
- Exploration: Following the wall on the left, the descent continues to -35m, where divers zigzag upward along the reef.
- Marine Encounters: red gorgonian corals teeming with nudibranchs, large brown groupers in the boulder caves (~25m), octopuses, moray eels, and conger eels hiding in the rock crevices.
- Ascent: The dive gradually ascends to -5m, where a Donzella pavonina (ornate wrasse) often greets divers during their safety stop (3 min).
- Surface Signal: Due to frequent boat traffic, a surface marker buoy must be deployed before surfacing.
🟢 Green Route (Depth: Up to -18m)
A shallower but equally fascinating dive route, perfect for those who prefer to stay within recreational limits.
- Descent: Similar to the Red Route, the dive begins at -8m next to the statue of the diver.
- Exploration: Divers follow the south side of the wall, zigzagging down to -18m, encountering: brown groupers, snappers, and barracudas hunting among damselfish schools; octopuses, moray eels, and conger eels hiding in the rock crevices
- Ascent: Divers ascend along the north side of the reef, gradually reaching -5m for a 3-minute safety stop.
- Surface Signal: A surface marker buoy must be deployed before surfacing due to boat traffic.
Dive Bigo with Diving Group Portofino
- Location: Eastern Zone C, Portofino Marine Protected Area
- Access: Boat dive (anchor drop)
- Best Conditions: Southwest winds and sea
- Depth: 18m (Green Route) | 40m (Red Route)
- Difficulty: Beginner to Advanced
Ready to explore one of Portofino’s most fascinating dive sites? Book your dive with us today!
