| Portoferraio - Scoglietto (Elba)
An environment protection area where almost all the Mediterranean sea flora and fauna can be found
Without a doubt one of the most interesting and suggestive scuba diving areas is the environment protection area in Le Ghiaie, in Portoferraio, opposite the beach that bears the same name; this beach is made up of white pebbles that the sea has made smooth.
The small area was chosen in 1971, and goes from punta Falcone at the Scoglietto to Capo Bianco; the original aim was to study the area and contribute in the best way possible to the reproduction of the sea flora and fauna, as well as enticing others to establish marine reserves in Italy.
Although these studies were never actually carried out, thanks to all the marine authorities that keep a watchful eye and the numerous local diving clubs, the area has become a real, open air aquarium; for many subs, especially photo and video fans, it has become one of their favourite places, because even on one single occasion when you go down you can see all of the Mediterranean sea flora and fauna.
The sea bed around the Scoglietto, especially on the eastern part, is one of the best areas for going scuba diving; here there are rocks that go from 7-8 metres below the surface to 25 metres down, and you will see many groupers, some of which are paricularly large, swimming about quite the thing and in no way afraid of you.
Not only groupers hide between the rocks; if you look very closely in the cracks and slits, you will see large gurnards, forkbeards, conger and moray eels. Where the rocks come to an end, there are many holes in the sand, and here you can see beautiful, elegant corvinas.
Many species of fish dance around you all the time: breams, mullets, sails, sea breams and many anchovies, sardines and mackerel; the rich, benthonic life is also very beautiful. If you head northwards, where the rocks make room for the posidonia and the sand, on a gently sloping plateau, behind a wall of fish consisting of many damselfish, saddled bream and bogues, you will see the shadows of the real hunters: red snappers, amberjacks and bonitos, and in the middle even large sea bream.
It goes without saying that in an area like this, where you can admire so many different species of fish without having to go deeper down than 22-23 metres, it would be a pity not to go scuba diving at night.
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