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Calafuria - Livorno
This is the classic Calafuria dive, known by the old scuba divers as the ‘net dive’ because there are pieces of trawl-net caught among the rocks, left behind by fishing boats. The dive site is characterised by lots of coral and many lobsters, albeit small ones. With a bit of luck, and by diving early in the morning, you are likely to meet a few dentex and other predators. For some time now it has also been possible to see Mediterranean barracuda, smaller than their tropical cousins, but just as beautiful. There is an abundance of sponge, anenomes and spirographis.
The fascinating general seascape that comes into view at the bottom of the wall is well worth taking in. Here there are numerous gorges and the remains of the fishing nets now completely absorbed into the ecosystem. Keep a careful eye on instrument readings (air/time) as the depth of this dive means that you can quickly reach decompression limits.
route:
You leave the shore at the base of the cliff on the north side of the bridge, swimming on the surface. Once out of the gulf, proceed out to sea, turning slightly to the right until you come into line with the third pier of the bridge, visible from the sea through the "V" formed by the shape of the cliff. After about 60 metres, still swimming out to sea in line with the "V" and the third pilaster, look towards the left (with your back to the sea) and you will start to see the Boccale castle. Your descent begins when you can see the third window (see note).
Once on the sea floor you are at a depth of about 28 metres, halfway down a slope that begins at about 20 metres and descends to 39 metres. By following the route shown on the map, you will come across numerous gorges and caves and the famous pieces of fishing net (Depending on time and air available, you can go back up to the top of the ridge at any time, pointing the compass at 60° to get back to the shore, after crossing an area of cobbles and gravel)
Once you have reached the wall, keep it on your left and follow it to return to the point of departure, or return to the surface inside the gulf.
interest: naturalistic / biological
type of sea floor: gravel, rocky wall, mud
current: light / medium
level of difficulty: intermediate
depth: min 14° - max 39°
summer temperature: 22°
winter temperature: 13°
access: from the shore, by boat
recommended equipment: standard equipment, compass and torch
note:
If you decide to descend earlier (strongly advised in the case of currents), you will find yourself in the area of gravel and cobbles that precedes the slope, and anyway still on the same line as the route at a depth of between 14 and 20 metres. You then have to navigate using the compass in a direction of 240° in order to reach the drop-off.
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