Porto Azzurro: unique seascapes off Elba Islands

Near Punta Bianca, you’ll see several rocks rising up, just a few metres from the water’s surface. By beginning your dive here, you’ll be able to appreciate the extraordinary amount of Parazoanthus that are present in the area, characterized by their intense orange hues. As you continue gliding along in the water near the steep rock wall’s niches and cavities, you’ll find sprouting yellow sea fans of Eunicella cavolinii growing in the more shaded spots on the seabed. Wide canyons distinguish the area, where you’ll find a deep coral reef and all its stunning sealife. Slightly further north, you’ll reach a small cave, inhabited by hundreds of Plesionika narval red shrimp. Reaching the base of the wall, you’ll find several isolated boulders and burrows that are home to gorgonians, lobsters and moray eels.

Past Capo Caldo on the south side of the Gulf of Porto Azzurro, you’ll find a varied and vibrant seabed consisting of large boulders and walls that slope down to more than 40 metres. At the 35-metre mark, the cliff is completely covered with red sea fans. While peeking amidst the rocks, it’s not hard to see the antennas of many lobsters. With the help of a flashlight, you’re also sure to spot red shellfish hidden underwater beneath the crevices. The slope of the reef facing open sea is home to bream and snappers. During the summer months, it’s not unusual to spot sunfish. Somewhat sheltered from the winds, this area is an outdoor gym-of-sorts for novice divers as it is ideal for diving in less than perfect weather conditions.

Punta delle Cannelle lies on the north side of the Gulf of Porto Azzurro and scuba diving can begin right under the headland. Swimming north, you’ll pass a plateau which slopes gently down to 25 metres before reaching a sharp ledge that drops steeply into the blue. White and yellow gorgonians colonize amidst the rocks, but if you look toward the open sea you’re sure to find splendid schools of white bream and the gleaming silhouette of some large pelagic fish chasing schools of azure fish. Beyond 30 metres deep, the walls seem to be completely covered with sea whips, which become thicker and bigger with depth. Beyond the ledge, you’ll find the base of the cliff with open narrow passages between the rocks. There, in the darkness, you’ll see colonies of sponges and Parazoanthus, while in the larger cracks, you may spot shellfish and eels.