Home » La Fontana – Capo Mortola

La Fontana

Italy, Liguria, Imperia, Municipality of Ventimiglia

LAT
LONG
Datum / reference system

43°45’676’’
7°32’494’’
WGS 84

Maximum depth
Difficulty

From -24 m to -36 m
Medium / High

Currently, the best way to visit the Capo Mortola Marine Conservation Area is to contact the Pianeta Blu company and arrange an activity at sea.

Attention
FRAGILE

SPAMI
species

Diving

Permit
not required

Cultural and
N
atural

Medium
frequented

Description of the site of natural interest

This dive is characterised by a unique seabed with a rocky cliff that rises from a depth of 36 m to 24 m from the surface. At the base of this cliff there is a cavity from which a jet of fresh water emerges. If you walk along the shoal from north to south you can see smaller springs that have been surveyed as far as the coast. The fresh water of the spring, mixing with the salt water, creates a spectacular optical effect, as well as very special environmental conditions: in this site we can admire, in addition to large specimens of Paramuricea clavata, numerous colonies of Parazoanthus axinellae as well as a great variety of sponge species. In the numerous crevices of the wall, lobsters are frequently encountered at the right time of year, finding shelter here from the many predators along with red scorpion fish, groupers and clouds of red damselfish. Lobsters can also be spotted in the more protected crevices.

Route card