Underwater Landscape Shoal
Average depth 25 mt
Visibility Good
Current Low/moderate
Marine Environment Gorgonians, coral, madrepores
Marine Life Barracuda, snapper, grouper, amberjack, lobster, moray eel, scorpion fish, octopus, conger
Isuela Shoal
We are in front of the tip of Punta Chiappa. The dead body of the buoy is positioned in the center of the shoal at a depth of -16mt. Each rift is inhabited by different forms of life. Moray eels, lobsters, conger eels, octopuses, large scorpion fish, while the snappers and groupers as sentinels check the whole area in search of some succulent meal!
Going deeper, wonderful red gorgonians are the protagonists of this beautiful dive. Catfish eggs find shelter among the branches.
The position of the shoal favors the passage of predators such as amberjacks and snapper who are always in pursuit of shoals of anchovies or damselfish. Without doubt one of the most fascinating dives for the quantity and variety of life forms.
Going deeper, wonderful red gorgonians are the protagonists of this beautiful dive. Catfish eggs find shelter among the branches.
The position of the shoal favors the passage of predators such as amberjacks and snapper who are always in pursuit of shoals of anchovies or damselfish. Without doubt one of the most fascinating dives for the quantity and variety of life forms.
RED PATH (up to – 40 meters) from SOUTH to WEST
After the pre-dive check we will be ready to visit this beautiful shoal. Reached the dead body of the buoy at about -16mt we are welcomed by a school of barracudas swimming around the chain. We will start our dive in the SOUTH direction. We will descend following the course of the shoal
reaching the maximum depth of -40 meters. Keeping the shoal to our right we will turn clockwise. The red gorgonian branches sway sinuously moved by the moderate current that comes from the west. On some of these we find dog cats’ eggs hanging. In the numerous ravines, adorned with red coral, seaworms, lobsters and moray eels find shelter.
Continuing our journey we will arrive next to a large crack rich in coral, Parazoanthus axinellae and Leptopsammia pruvoti. Further on, another deep fissure will open from where the lobster antennae emerge. From here on, the wall changes shape and becomes smoother. We are now at about -25 meters and every now and then it is worth looking towards the open sea from which predators such as tuna, amberjacks, barracudas, snappers, …
Going up again we will reach -18 meters on the edge of the hat of the shoal where numerous brown groupers and snappers swim. The numerous moray eels present in this dive site peek out from the numerous ravines. We will go up next to the chain stopping for 3mn at -5mt.
Downhill and uphill, you must not lose visual contact with the chain for any reason. In case of strong current it is not recommended to dive. Always keep eye contact with the wall throughout the dive.
BLUE PATH (up to – 40 meters) from WEST to SOUTH
After the pre-dive check we will be ready to visit this beautiful shoal. Reached the dead body of the buoy at about -16 meters we are welcomed by a school of barracudas swimming around the chain. We will descend at a large boulder on the west side of the hat at -14 meters. Reached the depth of about -25 meters with the wall on the left we will continue counterclockwise where we will meet a deep crack. The gorgonians increase their size the deeper you go. On some of them we will see hanging dogfish eggs. At this point we have 2 options:
1) in case of excellent visibility we will be able to detach ourselves from the shoal and reach the ISUELINA in the west direction, a small shoal with the hat at -33 meters, and then return to the main shoal continuing anticlockwise;
2) continue the dive around the ISUELA.
A little further on another split rich in coral, Parazoanthus axinellae and Leptopsammia pruvoti opens on our left. From here on the conformation of the wall changes conformation with various protruding boulders. There are many ravines rich in coral, where goslings, moray eels and scorpionfish find their home. At this point of the route we will have ascended to about -25 meters.
In the blue the snappers are hunting among a school of damselfish while the big brown groupers swim around us. Here the moray eels peep out from the numerous ravines, which are always numerous in this dive site.
Finning on the side of the hair of the shoal counterclockwise we will return to the boulder which is located to the WEST at -14 meters, a spin around and we will begin our ascent next to the chain. Once at -5 meters we will make a stop of 3 mn and we will be able to return to the surface.
Downhill and uphill, you must not lose visual contact with the chain for any reason. In case of strong current it is not recommended to dive. During the whole dive, always keep eye contact with the dry wall.
GREEN PATH (up to -18 mt)
Only in the case of optimal sea conditions without current will it be possible to bring first level divers (open or equivalent). The whole dive will take place both on the external sides of the hat, where you can admire the passage of numerous predators such as barracudas, amberjacks, snappers, and in the center where, in the numerous cracks, octopuses and many morays find their home. I tried it personally and I enjoyed it a lot without ever exceeding -18 meters.
Cecilia Luconi
