Vessinaro peak
A Dive into the Wild Heart of Portofino’s Underwater Canyons
An evocative and dramatic underwater landscape, Vessinaro Peak features vertical walls plunging down to 40 meters, creating an awe-inspiring canyon. This site offers stunning visibility, vibrant marine life, and an intricate rock formation, making it a must-visit dive in the Portofino Marine Protected Area.
🔴 Red Route (up to -40m)
After a pre-dive and bubble check, we begin our descent to -16 meters near the mooring point. The first marine residents to greet us are large brown groupers, calmly patrolling the area.
We swim southeast, reaching a breathtaking vertical wall at -25 meters, which plunges to -40 meters before meeting an open expanse of bright sandy seabed. Here, we find majestic red gorgonians swaying in the current, while lobsters, moray eels, and octopuses peek out from crevices. Look into the blue to spot hunting snappers darting through shoals of damselfish.
As we ascend, an open bay at -18 meters reveals scattered boulders. We zigzag through this vibrant terrain, gradually rising from -12 meters to -8 meters. Approaching our starting point, we circle two large boulders, where a narrow, elongated crevice rises towards the surface—a perfect spot to illuminate with a torch.
Before surfacing, we make a brief stop at another prominent boulder to the west before completing our 3-minute safety stop at -5 meters.
🟢 Green Route (up to -18m)
Following a pre-dive and bubble check, we descend to -16 meters near the mooring point, where large brown groupers are a frequent sight.
Heading eastward with the promontory on our left, we follow the underwater landscape at a maximum depth of -18 meters. A few minutes into our dive, a striking canyon opens before us, leading us into a large, expansive bay with scattered boulders.
From here, we begin our gradual ascent from -12 meters to -8 meters, tracing the rock formations on our right. We eventually reach the bay where we started, taking time to explore two prominent detached boulders. These formations hold hidden crevices perfect for torch exploration, revealing small marine creatures sheltering inside.
The final highlight before surfacing is a notable boulder to the west, just past the mooring chain. We conclude our dive with a 3-minute safety stop at -5 meters before surfacing beside the boat.
Dive at Vessinaro Peak Dive Site with Diving Group Portofino
- Location: Portofino Marine Protected Area
- Access: Boat dive
- Best Conditions: Clear visibility, moderate currents
- Depth: 18m (Green Route) | 40m (Red Route)
- Difficulty: Beginner to Advanced
Ready to dive into one of Portofino’s most fascinating underwater landscapes? Book your dive with us today!
