Grotta Cattedrale - Ustica
Grotta Cattedrale offers a unique cave diving experience on Ustica. Inside, you'll find an air pocket, allowing you to surface and admire the light filtering through the cave's entrance. The rock formations are impressive, and it’s a good spot for photographers looking for interesting light play. We’d suggest this site for experienced divers comfortable in overhead environments.
- Location
- Ustica, Italy, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 38.095120, 12.804565
- Type
- cave
Marine Protected Area: Fondali dello Zingaro
Best Time to Dive in Ustica
The warmest water temperatures in Ustica occur in January, averaging 15.5°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 15.5°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 15.5°C (air: 13.6°C)
- February: 15.5°C (air: 13.5°C)
- March: 15.5°C (air: 13.6°C)
- April: 15.5°C (air: 15.0°C)
- May: 15.5°C (air: 18.5°C)
- June: 15.5°C (air: 22.7°C)
- July: 15.5°C (air: 26.4°C)
- August: 15.5°C (air: 27.0°C)
- September: 15.5°C (air: 24.9°C)
- October: 15.5°C (air: 21.6°C)
- November: 15.5°C (air: 18.6°C)
- December: 15.5°C (air: 15.3°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Ustica
- ALMERIAN - 16m (wreck)
- AMICIZIA - 17m (wreck)
- Apogon
- Arenata - 1m (wreck)
- ARIADNE - 8m (wreck)
- ARIANNA - 3m (wreck)
- ARIS - 2m (wreck)
- ARTURO VOLPE - 10m (wreck)
- ASO - 30m (wreck)
- ATALIA - 5m (wreck)
- ATLA - 31m (wreck)
- Atlantis Bay (reef)
- AZZURRA SECONDA - 4m (wreck)
- Baia Verde
- Bellatrix (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Grotta Cattedrale
Marine Life in Ustica
Home to 63 recorded species including 41 reef fish, 4 whales & dolphins, 3 other, 3 hard corals, 3 crabs & lobsters, 2 seagrass & algae.
Notable Species
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Salema (Sarpa salpa) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
- Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo) - Reef Fish
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
- mauve stinger (Pelagia noctiluca) - Jellyfish
- Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
- Damsel fish (Chromis chromis) - Reef Fish
- Scarlet Coral (Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) europaea) - Hard Corals
- Garrupa (Serranus cabrilla) - Reef Fish
- Bushy Coral (Cladocora caespitosa) - Hard Corals
- Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) - Reef Fish
- Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) - Seagrass & Algae
- Sunset cup coral (Leptopsammia pruvoti) - Hard Corals
- Common Spiny Lobster (Palinurus elephas) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Yellow Barracuda (Sphyraena viridensis) - Reef Fish
- Pink Sea Fan (Eunicella verrucosa) - Soft Corals
- Boarfish (Capros aper) - Reef Fish
- Bellowfish (Macroramphosus scolopax) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Grotta Cattedrale
Based on average water temperature of 15.5°C.
- Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 15°C water
- Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories