Scuba diving at the secca del Corallo (Capo Fonza)

This scuba diving area is opposite Capo Fonza, the promontory of the Gulf of Lacona.

The sandbank is very near the shore, and on days when the sea is calm you have to be careful because you can only just see the tip that is only 4 metres down so it is practically on the surface; it goes down, however, to a depth of 45 metres

You will see red sea fans, nudibranchs and sea spirographs in the cracks of the wall as well as many tiny branches of precious red coral.

The sandbank consists of tunnels that from the top go down very deep, and in one of them, at a depth of 30 metres, you will see the entrance to a grotto so if you decide to go in and visit it be very careful and try to avoid damaging or disturbing the sea bed in any way. The entrance is completely covered in coral that, sad to say, was cut in the past.

Go farther inside and you will come to another bend that goes as deep down as 15 metres to practically the bottom of the sandbank; bear in mind that the only way to get back to the surface is to swim back out the grotto.

With the wall of the grotto to your right as you go out you will be able to see moray eels, conger eels, groupers, nudibranchs, white sea fans, shellfish and clams as well as coral in the numerous cracks.

Keeping the wall to your right you can now swim back up to the surface while damselfish and sea bream will keep you company and act as a safety watch on your way up.

Photographs kindly lent by Riccardo Buralli - Diving in Elba