Scoglio del Medico

Best months: Sep

Protected Area

Area marina protetta Isola di Ustica

Why dive here

With 60+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, sea turtles and sperm whales - Scoglio del Medico offers some of Ustica's richest pinnacle 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

CharacterPinnacle dive · max 8-35m

StandoutDramatic pinnacle topography

If you only do one dive in Ustica, make it Scoglio del Medico. This site just feels different, a proper Mediterranean showstopper that, for us, captures everything special about diving here. The main event is a substantial rocky pinnacle, its top shallow enough for a safety stop at 8 metres, but it drops away sharply to 35 metres. We love dropping in on the deeper side, aiming for the base, then slowly spiralling up. You’ll find dusky groupers lounging in rocky crevices, big old fish unafraid of divers. Look closely and you'll spot scarlet coral and vibrant sunset cup coral clinging to the walls, a lovely splash of colour against the rock. Keep an eye on the blue for schools of yellow barracuda passing by, sometimes in such numbers they seem to stretch forever. It’s an intermediate dive, mainly due to the depth and potential for current, though we’ve rarely found it too challenging. We always suggest going early in the morning for the best light, especially if you want to catch the amberjacks hunting.