ALFREDO CAPPELLINI
Protected Area
Fondali Porto Maurizio - San Lorenzo al Mare - Torre dei Marmi
Why dive here
With 70+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, humpback whales, mobula rays (devil rays) and oceanic whitetip sharks - ALFREDO CAPPELLINI offers some of Portofino & Liguria's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 14-27°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Alfredo Cappellini wreck, just off Portofino, is one of those sites we always recommend, especially if you’re looking for something a bit different, and shallow. At just seven metres deep, it’s a brilliant second dive or a relaxed day out, making it ideal for newer divers or anyone keen on a longer bottom time. This isn’t a grand, intact vessel. The Cappellini was a submarine, scuttled during WWII, and time has definitely taken its toll. What you find now are the scattered remnants of a wreck, strewn across a sandy bottom, with fragments of metal and machinery creating a really interesting landscape. We love how the parts have become artificial reefs, attracting groups of damselfish and small wrasse that dart in and out of the crevices. Look closely and you’ll spot nudibranchs, often several different species, clinging to the rusty metal. We often find ourselves just slowly drifting, peering under plates of steel, imagining the submarine’s past. It’s a contemplative dive, rather than an adrenaline rush, perfect for practising buoyancy and getting truly absorbed in the details.
Typical ALFREDO CAPPELLINI Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
ALFREDO CAPPELLINI Wreck History
Year Sunk
1944
Vessel Type
warship
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
2,437 GRT
The wreck known as the Alfredo Cappellini has a fascinating and complex multinational history. She began life as the German cargo ship Sesostris. After being captured, she was handed over to the Italian Navy, who requisitioned her for war service and renamed her Alfredo Cappellini. Following Italy's armistice in 1943, the vessel was seized by the Germans, who converted her into a heavily armed submarine chaser and designated her UJ-2216. Her new role was to hunt Allied submarines and protect German convoys along the heavily contested Ligurian coast.
Her final battle came on November 28, 1944, near Portofino. Attacked by British Motor Torpedo Boats, UJ-2216 fought back fiercely but was ultimately struck by a torpedo and sank. Today, she rests at a shallow depth of around 7 metres, broken into two main sections. Her accessibility makes her one of the most popular wrecks in the Mediterranean, offering a compelling dive for all levels. Divers can explore the deck, peer into the holds, and see the anti-aircraft guns still pointing towards the surface, a silent testament to her violent end.
Nearest Dive Centres to ALFREDO CAPPELLINI
Dive shops near ALFREDO CAPPELLINI
Borgo Marina Diving a.s.d.
L'Elica Marine Services
NAUTILUS TDC
Marina Diving Service
Reviews for ALFREDO CAPPELLINI
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for ALFREDO CAPPELLINI
ALFREDO CAPPELLINI Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for ALFREDO CAPPELLINI, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (44.38, 9.02) (43km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
21°C
70°F · Range: 19–23.2°C
Air Temperature
18°C
64°F
Wind Speed
4.49 m/s
8.7 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1017.3 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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