European Barracuda

Photo: Christian Amador Da Silva · © all rights reserved

Barracuda school along the deeper sections of the Stromboli wall from late spring through autumn, hanging in loose aggregations of 20 to 50 individuals in the blue water just off the basalt columns. They are attracted by the concentration of smaller baitfish that congregate in the productive upwelled water around the volcano, and their silvery flanks catch the light dramatically against the dark volcanic backdrop. Summer brings the largest aggregations, and schools occasionally spiral into tight bait-balls that divers describe as one of the most exhilarating sights in Mediterranean diving.