Ustica Island
Italy · Mediterranean
Italy's first marine reserve, Ustica sits 60 km north of Palermo and protects waters so rich that giant grouper cruise openly between divers and posidonia meadows stretch to 40 m depth. June through September is prime season with warm water and visibility regularly exceeding 30 m.
What you will see
20 species across the dive sites here
Loggerhead sea turtle
Seen Aug 2025
at Secca di Colombara
Vulnerable
Dusky grouper
Seen Jul 2025
at Il Medico
Ornate wrasse
Seen Jul 2025
at Il Medico
Least concern
Purple Sea Star
Seen Jul 2025
at Il Medico
Salema Porgy
Seen Jul 2025
at Il Medico
Least concern
Common Two-Banded Seabream
Seen Jul 2025
at Il Medico
Least concern
European barracuda
Seen Jul 2025
at Secca di Colombara
Least concern
Yellowmouth Barracuda
Seen Jul 2025
at Il Medico
Least concern
Spiny lobster
Seen Apr 2025
at Grotta Azzurra
Vulnerable
Mediterranean moray
Seen Oct 2024
at Wreck of the Secchia
Least concern
Encrusting gorgonian
Seen Sep 2024
at Wreck of the Secchia
Red gorgonian
Seen Sep 2024
at Il Medico
Cardinal fish
Seen Aug 2024
at Grotta Azzurra
Least concern
Sponge community
Seen Aug 2024
at Grotta Azzurra
Serpulid tubeworm
Seen Aug 2024
at Grotta Azzurra
Barred hogfish
Seen year round
at Il Medico
Vulnerable
Canary damselfish
Seen year round
at Wreck of the Secchia
Least concern
Scorpionfish
Seen year round
at Wreck of the Secchia
Least concern
Yellow encrusting sponge
Seen year round
at Secca di Colombara
Ocean sunfish
Seasonal visitor
at Secca di Colombara
Vulnerable
Dive sites
Il Medico
dusky grouper · red gorgonian · barred hogfish · ornate wrasse
Secca di Colombara
ocean sunfish · yellow encrusting sponge · european barracuda · loggerhead sea turtle
Grotta Azzurra
sponge community · serpulid tubeworm · cardinal fish · spiny lobster
Wreck of the Secchia
mediterranean moray · scorpionfish · canary damselfish · encrusting gorgonian