Le Cattedrali

★★★★☆ (68)

The Cathedrals of Palmarola are a unique spectacle of nature: a cascade of dark rocks overlooking a crystal clear sea. The dive is accessible to all: you can enjoy the beauty of the four caves that follow one next to the other, penetrating the rock until you lose contact with the light.

Groupers, moray eels and many anemones are encountered on the wall. Inside the caves it is possible to unearth clouds of shrimp, white sponges, coralline red algae and bryozoans.

Dive Activity

Potential Wildlife Sightings

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel

Moray Eel
3 Sightings
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0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
1
J
1
J
0
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0

Dive Centers Catering This Dive Site

Ponza Diving Center

Ponza Diving Center

Via Banchina di Fazio SNC, 04027 Isola di Ponza, LT - Italy

Dive Sites Nearby

Odissey Diving Ponza, 04027 Ponza
Faro della Guardia di Levante (★4.0)

Faro della Guardia di Levante (★4.0)

We are located in the southernmost point of the island, where Mount Guardia ends on the sea and you can see the Faro della Guardia, important for sea and air navigation. Given the geography of the place there are often currents along the walls. Site accessible by dinghy.
Mares
Faro della Guardia di Ponente (★4.1)

Faro della Guardia di Ponente (★4.1)

We are at the southernmost point of the island, where Mount Guardia ends up on the sea and you can observe the Guardia di Ponente lighthouse, important for maritime and air navigation. Given the geography of the place, there are often currents along the walls.
Aqualung
Parata di Punta Madonna (★4.2)

Parata di Punta Madonna (★4.2)

The Punta Madonna parade is the wall behind Punta Madonna, a real natural swimming pool where you can take courses, discoveries or take a dive in total relax. Characterized by stacks and walls with a maximum depth of 17 metres.
Odissey Diving Ponza, 04027 Ponza
Faraglioni di Punta della Madonna (★4.1)

Faraglioni di Punta della Madonna (★4.1)

As soon as you leave the port of Ponza, after having passed the Grotte di Pilato, you will find the Faraglioni di Punta della Madonna which offer both wall and cave diving starting from a depth of 4 meters and suitable for everyone. The site is easily accessible by dinghy.
Odissey Diving Ponza, 04027 Ponza
Grotta della Maga Circe & Grotta di Capo Bianco (★4.8)

Grotta della Maga Circe & Grotta di Capo Bianco (★4.8)

To the west of the island, among the white limestone cliffs, are the caves of Maga Circe and Capobianco, where with only mask and fins and accompanied by ODISSEY DIVING's dinghy, one can observe stupendous plays of light and crystal clear water.
Mares
Scoglio Rosso (★3.9)

Scoglio Rosso (★3.9)

Located just outside the port of Ponza, in front of the Grotte di Pilato, the SCOGLIO ROSSO offers walls full of life for both advanced and more expert divers. It is possible to reach the site very comfortably with a dinghy.
Odissey Diving Ponza, 04027 Ponza
Secca dei mattoni (★3.8)

Secca dei mattoni (★3.8)

Located between Ponza and Palmarola, the Secca dei Mattoni is an important site in terms of archeology since an ancient Roman ship sank right here. Even today there are amphorae, finds from the Roman era and a Bourbon anchor. The site can be reached in a short time with a dinghy.
Ponza Diving Center, 04027 Isola di Ponza
Secca di Mezzogiorno (★0.0)

Secca di Mezzogiorno (★0.0)

More than a mile from the stacks rises the last reef of the Secca di Mezzogiorno with cap at - 42 meters and descends to 85 meters. Challenging dive to do in open circuit but with certain mixtures it is possible to observe the wonder of this shoal. Recommended for rebreather owners.
Odissey Diving Ponza, 04027 Ponza
Relitto Kastell Luanda (★4.0)

Relitto Kastell Luanda (★4.0)

Located in Cala dell'Acqua, on the west face of the island, the wreck lies at a depth of 6m. It is not buoyant and cannot be penetrated but both the propeller and rudder can be seen. Perfect site for Try scuba and snorkeling, conveniently reached by ODISSEY DIVING dinghy.
Odissey Diving Ponza, 04027 Ponza
Relitto LST 349 - Poppa (★4.2)

Relitto LST 349 - Poppa (★4.2)

Place located in the western part of Ponza, the stern of the shipwreck from the Second World War lying in navigation trim at a maximum depth of 19 meters and partly penetrable. The propeller and engine are still visible. Also suitable for Open Water Divers. Reachable by dinghy.
Odissey Diving Ponza, 04027 Ponza
Relitto LST 349 - Prua (★4.2)

Relitto LST 349 - Prua (★4.2)

This place is located in the western part of Ponza, it offers a wall full of life at the base of it lies the bow of the shipwreck from the Second World War, lying in navigation trim at a depth of 30 meters, divided into two parts and partly penetrable . Reachable by dinghy.
Mares
Cigliata di Punta Papa (★5.0)

Cigliata di Punta Papa (★5.0)

A few hundred meters from Punta Papa, from 40 meters, there is this colorful wall. The dive, depending on the depth, takes place along the wall with crevices and dens. Generally you make a multilevel dive with times ranging from 45 to 60 minutes in the water; this is also thanks to the vast plateau at 5 mt.
Mares
Secca di Punta Papa (★4.5)

Secca di Punta Papa (★4.5)

’SECCA DI PUNTA PAPA’ is one of the most exciting dives from a morphological point of view and rich in biodiversity. It is a rocky and sheer wall located outside the bay of Cala Feola. dive off curve and quite demanding (top of the shoal at -32 m). Suitable for open circuit and CCR users.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink
Gavi (★4.3)

Gavi (★4.3)

L’isola di Gavi is located at 120 mt from Ponza: it outlines a cliff morphologically varied but without obvious landmarks, characterized by passages, little caves and about three meters deep a long cave, which penetrates obliquely into the mountain for about 50 meters flowing into a dark chamber.
Mares, Janez Kranjc
Scoglio Grosso (★3.8)

Scoglio Grosso (★3.8)

SCOGLIO GROSSO is situated between Ponza and Zannone: it offers a very nice and suggestive dive site, characterized by caves and wall full of marine organisms. it can be reached very easily by boats and dinghy
Aqualung
Secca di Tramontana (★4.4)

Secca di Tramontana (★4.4)

Located about 2 miles in a northwesterly direction, the Secca di Tramontana is among the most challenging with the cap at 60 mt and the northwest side plummeting to more than 80 meters; with a scooter you can continue until you reach the outer ledge reaching the bottom at - 110 meters. Very challenging.
Scubapro
Secca di Gioia (★0.0)

Secca di Gioia (★0.0)

Perhaps among the most evocative points discovered so far. Not reported on cartography and explored thanks to a generous fisherman, Secca di Gioia has the bottom at 90 meters and the top at 58 meters. Extremely suitable for CCR users.
Aqualung
Secca del Mariuolo (★4.4)

Secca del Mariuolo (★4.4)

On the west side of the Zannone’s island we can find La Secca del Mariuolo: the shoal arrives on the top till 4 meters, characterized by drop off with small caves and cracks that make it a very special dive site. Suitable for open circuit and CCR users