Parete delle gorgonie - Ustica

Parete delle Gorgonie, or Gorgonian Wall, is a classic Ustica dive. We drop onto a reef that slopes gently before a dramatic wall, thick with red gorgonians. Keep an eye out for resident groupers peering from crevices and small moray eels. It’s a good choice for divers comfortable with a deeper profile, usually descending to around 30 meters to appreciate the best of the wall.

Location: Ustica, Italy, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 37.627285, 12.347946

Marine Protected Area: Saline di Marsala

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to Parete delle gorgonie

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 Parete delle gorgonie

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