CAPITANO ANTONIO

Best months: Sep

Protected Area

Fondali di Staletti

Why dive here

With 60+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, sea turtles and sperm whales - CAPITANO ANTONIO offers some of Ustica's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 15-29°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeSep

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeDolphins, Sea Turtles and Sperm Whales · 60+ species recorded

Water15-29°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 26m

The Capitano Antonio is one of Ustica's true standout dives, not just because it’s a wreck, but because of how it rests. You drop onto the stern, which sits upright at 26 metres, a silent sentinel in the blue. This isn't just a pile of metal; it’s a proper motor vessel, sunk in 1968, and the story of its fate feels palpable as you fin past the bridge. We love that you can still make out so much of its original structure – the wheelhouse, the cargo holds – all now cloaked in a beautiful tapestry of Mediterranean sponges and colourful encrusting corals. Our favourite part is always the bow, which collapsed onto its port side. It creates these fantastic caverns and swim-throughs, perfect for spotting groupers lurking in the shadows. Look closely, and you’ll often find scorpionfish camouflaged against the rust, or playful octopuses peeking from crevices. Visibility here is usually excellent, often pushing 30 metres, which lets you appreciate the entire scene as you descend. We'd suggest going in the morning; the light filtering through the water onto the wreck is just something else. It's a dive that really suits those who appreciate both history and healthy marine life, offering a tangible link to the past while buzzing with present-day ocean activity.

Typical CAPITANO ANTONIO Dive Profile

Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.

Safety Notes

Depth of 26m - Advanced Open Water certification recommended.

Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.

Today05:5917:2311h 24m daylightGolden hour 16:48

CAPITANO ANTONIO Wreck History

Vessel Type

cargo ship

Cause

grounding

The history of the Capitano Antonio is shrouded in the murky depths it now calls home. This motor cargo vessel met its end on the rugged coastline of Ustica, near the point known as Punta Omo Morto. While the exact year of its sinking is not well-documented, it is widely believed the ship was caught in a violent storm. Laden with a heavy cargo of large marble blocks, it was driven onto the rocks and sank, spilling its valuable payload onto the seabed.

Today, the Capitano Antonio offers a fascinating dive into a submerged time capsule. The wreck lies at a depth of 26 meters, broken into two main sections with the bow and stern resting apart. Divers can explore the skeletal remains of the hull, now draped in sponges and soft corals. The most unique feature of the dive is the scattered cargo of white marble blocks, which create a stark, almost surreal contrast against the dark volcanic rock of the seabed. The wreck is a popular haunt for moray eels, groupers, and schools of damselfish, making it a classic Ustica dive site.