La Grande Montagna - Ustica
La Grande Montagna is one of Ustica's deeper dives, dropping down a series of steps and shelves. You'll often find pelagic species cruising past, with barracuda and amberjacks common sightings in the blue. Keep an eye on the walls for moray eels tucked into crevices. This site is best suited for experienced divers comfortable with greater depths and open water.
- Location
- Ustica, Italy, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 38.256920, 15.712789
- Type
- pinnacle
- Maximum Depth
- 15-35m
Marine Protected Area: Fondali di Scilla
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 La Grande Montagna
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 La Grande Montagna
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