/ Recreational diving / Santo Stefano's Shallow


One of the most beautiful, and interesting dive site of our region, Liguria, flourishing of fauna and marine vegetation of any kind. The shallow, boasts, about 8 km. Of seascape to be discovered, a succession of  recesses, cracks and walls covered by sea fans: the ideal habitat of fascinating groupers, unlikely see in other areas. Furthermore, the constant presence of small fishes does bring in the shallow a big quantity of pelagic as snappers, jackfish and barracuda.
The depth is between 15 and 40 mt. ideal for recreational dive with air and nitrox.
The principal dive sites of the S. Stefano's shallow, worth more than a dive are:

   The Cross 

In one of the most beautiful site, pluck, a commemorative cross 4 mt. high, it was laid about 10 years ago by a diving society from Piemonte (north Italy).On the top part of the shallow, close to the edge of the drop, is easy to see an old anchor, admiralty type, used to identify the dive site before the laying of the cross. The drop of the shallow is amazing, completely covered of red fans of soft corals. The dive site, is most frequented by pelagic, and is easy to see groupers of big dimensions.

Depth: 22/35 mt.


   The Canyon

The incredible emotion to dive in a passage formed by huge rock formations some meters high, and completely covered by fans of soft corals.

Depth: 24/36 mt.


   The Low Canyon

In this part of the shallow, the drop, is characterized by number of separated rocks, in the between of which, is possible to dive, swimming in his recesses, passages, and small canyons. As well the drop is flourishing of red fans of soft corals.

Depth: 24/36 mt.


   The Gully

A sandy gully across the shallow. On both sides, two areas of big steps of rocks, covered by red fans of soft corals, give seek and refuge to conger eel, moray eel, and groupers. On the top of the shallow is possible to find parts of a small plane. The tail of the plane gives the name to another dive site, the TAIL.

Depth: 29/34 mt.


   The Anphiteatre

Huge rocks formation with the characteristic shape of amphitheatre.

Depth: 27/38 mt.


   The Brush 

Is the extension of the shallow, with the characteristic shape of brush. It is a real paradise for conger eel, morays eel, and mostea (Phicis phicis).

Depth: 18/32 mt.


   The Terraces 

Is an impressive drop, formed by different terraces. Red fans of soft corals around, but the real characteristic is the presence of a big number of Verongia aerophoba (yellow sponges), possible to identify some purple sponges as well.

Depth: 25/38 mt.


   The High Terraces

It is a mix dive site, created by many isolated rocks and some drops with soft coral. The characteristic of this area is the big number of very colourful sponges.

Depth: 28/35 mt.


   The Tail 

Area flourishing of red soft corals, were there is the small wreck of a tail of a plane, possible the remains of a 3 engines Cant-Z506B or 100bis type, hit during the II world war, totally disintegrated during the sea-landing. A propeller of this plane, is now a commemorative monument in the village of S. Stefano al mare.

Depth: 29/37 mt.


   The Slabs 

Dive site, characterised by smooth slabs, insert in the coral drop. As well this area is flourishing of sea fans of corals.

Depth: 29/36 mt.


   The Cervino

Rock of about 3 mt. of height, so named for the similarity with the mountain situated in Switzerland. Some meter far from the drop, is covered of Halimenda tuna and Parazoanthus axinellae, crossed by a big crack giving refuge to many crayfish, lobster, conger eels and moray eels.

Depth: 28/35 mt.


   The Cave 

Is a tunnel all across the rocky drop, even the tunnel is narrow is possible to swim through it, being careful with the sediment on the sea bottom.

Depth: 29/38 mt.


   The Burrows 

Beautiful drop, characterised for the number of  recesses and burrows, a lot of rocks formation flourishing of sea life.

Depth: 27/34 mt.


   The Island 

Big and round rock rich of sea fans, in front, small drops with typical Mediterranean life.

Depth: 29/35 mt.


   Bastian

Very nice drop just in front of S. Stefano's shallow, characteristic, the many cracks and burrows of grotto (typical sea bottom formations). The name of this dive site, come from a funny way of say in our typical language, BASTIAN means, opposite, or, other way, in fact this lovely drop has the wall dropping the opposite side of the shallow.

Depth: 30/40 mt.


   The Oriental Rock

Very big and isolated rock, completely different from the other dive sites of the S. Stefano's shallow. As no many people dive this site, the Oriental rock is still uncontaminated  and for this reason rich of big snappers, crayfish, and the amazing angler.

Depth: 28/33 mt.


   The Caruggi

Drop completely covered by Parazoanthus axinellae, divided by some small passages, reminding the typical CARUGGI (narrow streets between old houses). All round, in the sand, different other rocks with sea fans. It is a real oasis far from the shallow. Sure is the presence of groupers..

Depth: 26/32 mt.


   Montecassino

Rock covered of Parazoanthus axinellae, inside a big burrow with different accesses always populated by sweet lips, sargos, crayfish, and one small grouper, for nothing scared of divers. Encounters with small nurse sharks and stingray give a nice touch to this dive. The exploration of this dive site continues in a sea grass field full o small other rocks cracks and burrows.

Depth: 15/20 mt.


   Western Low Shallow

The western shallow, is characterised by a very wide coral drop. No sea fans in this area, but many species of different organisms difficult to find in the oriental side Because just few fishermen, and no divers, this area is practically uncontaminated and rich of fishes.

Depth: 26/40 mt.


   The Three Moonfish

This dive site , is as well situated in the western part of the shallow, the presence of very few divers, make this side a nice refuge for some moonfish, possible, during the dive, to see big colonies of Cladocora caespitosa (madrepore).

Depth: 28/42 mt.


   The Ring 

As well in the western site of the shallow , this area does not see many divers. Some of the rocks have a particular ring shape. As uncontaminated, this area is very rich of fish.

Depth: 27/40 mt.


   The Pipe 

Is the pipe of the water company Roja bis. As this site is not deep at all, looks perfect for recreational diving. All around the pipe, many small rock formations and sea grass fields. The pipe hold in place by different tripods is refuge of many small fishes, Possible the encounter with juvenile groupers, and octopuses.

Depth: 9/14 mt.

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