ARTURO VOLPE
Protected Area
Fondali di Scilla
Why dive here
With 60+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, sea turtles and sperm whales - ARTURO VOLPE offers some of Ustica's richest wreck diving. Water sits around 15°C.
The Arturo Volpe is a surprisingly accessible wreck, considering its size. She's a big old cargo steamer, 86 metres long, that ran aground in heavy weather back in '73. Now she sits with her bow in just ten metres of water, her stern pointing towards the deep. This shallow depth makes her a favourite of ours for a relaxed second dive or for divers who want the wreck experience without the nitrogen narcosis. We love finning along her deck, peering into the holds where schools of damselfish hover, glinting in the shafts of light. Her superstructure is still largely intact, offering easy penetration for those keen to explore – just be mindful of your buoyancy. Look out for moray eels tucked into crevices and big groupers patrolling the deeper sections of the stern. It's a proper shipwreck dive, but gentle enough for newer wreck enthusiasts. Go early to avoid the crowds, as it can get busy in summer.
Typical ARTURO VOLPE 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.
ARTURO VOLPE Wreck History
Year Sunk
1973
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding
The Arturo Volpe was a steamship built in 1950 in Flensburg, Germany. For over two decades, it served as a workhorse of the seas, transporting goods across the Mediterranean. In February 1973, while on a passage from Novorossisk, Russia, to Pozzuoli, Italy, the vessel's long career came to an abrupt end. It ran aground on the rocky northeastern coast of Ustica, a small island known for its clear waters and dramatic underwater topography.
Today, the Arturo Volpe rests in a shallow grave, with its highest point just 10 meters below the surface. This makes it an incredibly accessible and popular dive site, perfect for novice divers and those on their second dive of the day. The wreck is broken into two main sections, allowing divers to easily explore its decaying structure. Over the years, it has transformed into a thriving artificial reef, teeming with damselfish, groupers, and moray eels that have made the ship's rusted hull their home.
Nearest Dive Centres to ARTURO VOLPE
Dive shops near ARTURO VOLPE
Mondo sub
BLUNAUTA DIVING CENTER MILAZZO
AQUATICA DIVING CENTER
Reviews for ARTURO VOLPE
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for ARTURO VOLPE
ARTURO VOLPE Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for ARTURO VOLPE, sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Open-Meteo grid (38.72, 13.18) (0km away)
August Averages
Sea Temperature
15.49°C
60°F
Air Temperature
27°C
81°F
Wind Speed
5.68 m/s
11.0 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1013.3 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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