GIORGIONE

Best months: Sep

Protected Area

Fondali del Plemmirio

Why dive here

With 60+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, sea turtles and sperm whales - GIORGIONE 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 2m

The Giorgione isn’t your typical Ustica dive. We’re talking about a massive tanker, nearly 200 metres long, that grounded in a gale back in the 80s. But here’s the kicker: it’s only two metres deep. You’re essentially snorkelling or freediving over an enormous, rusting hulk. When we first dropped in, the sheer scale of it was wild; you can make out the entire bow section stretching out beneath you, just barely submerged. Sunlight filters through the shallow water, highlighting the skeletal remains of the superstructure and the massive deck plates. It’s been down there long enough that the metal is draped in algae and small sponges, creating a habitat for juvenile fish. We saw clouds of damselfish darting between the girders and even a couple of inquisitive octopus tucked into crevices. It’s an easy, fascinating surface explore, brilliant for photographers wanting to capture that unique shipwreck silhouette against the sun, or for those days when you just want a relaxed dip over something genuinely historic without the tanks. Bring a decent camera, because the light here is phenomenal.