Question 1

How deep is Scoglio del Medico?

Accepted Answer

Blue Diving Ustica publishes an average depth of 25 m and a maximum of 35 m, and Mister Jump gives 20-35 m for the standard routes. There is also a deeper line on arches and tunnels between 30 and 45 m, which centres sell as a technical dive rather than the normal profile. Plan the recreational dive to 35 m.

Question 2

Is Scoglio del Medico suitable for beginners?

Accepted Answer

No. Blue Diving Ustica rates it Advanced Diver, the working depths are 25-35 m, and several of the routes pass through a tunnel or into the La Balena cavity, which are overhead environments. A newly certified diver should build up on shallower Ustica sites first and come back to this one.

Question 3

How do you get to Scoglio del Medico?

Accepted Answer

By boat only. Ustica Diving Center describes about thirty minutes of coastal navigation from the island's port round to the north-west side, where the rock stands a few hundred metres offshore. Four centres run it: two based on Ustica and two working across from Palermo.

Question 4

Do you need a permit to dive Scoglio del Medico?

Accepted Answer

Recreational diving inside the Ustica marine protected area is allowed in zones B and C subject to approval by the managing body, so in practice you dive with one of the accredited centres and they handle it. The rock itself sits about 400 m outside zone A, the integral reserve, which is closed to navigation, mooring, access and bathing altogether.

Question 5

What will you see at Scoglio del Medico?

Accepted Answer

The site is known for a standing carousel of barracuda and large amberjack, and for groupers: dusky grouper and the mottled Mycteroperca rubra are both recorded here. Parrotfish, damselfish, salema, seabream, moray eels and nudibranchs work the rock, and guides report occasional devil rays and eagle rays passing into the blue.

Question 6

Is there current at Scoglio del Medico?

Accepted Answer

Usually light. Mister Jump describes the current as weak and constant, while Blue Diving Ustica simply lists it as possible. It is an exposed rock in open water on the far side of the island, so the sea state rather than the current is what cancels the trip.

Question 7

Can you snorkel Scoglio del Medico?

Accepted Answer

You can float over it from a boat and the water is clear enough to make out the bottom from the surface, but the dive itself happens between 25 and 35 m, so a snorkeller sees very little of it. Taking anything from the water is forbidden here in any case.

Question 8

What is forbidden at Scoglio del Medico?

Accepted Answer

The rock is in zone B of the Ustica marine protected area, where the regulation bans any form of fishing or collecting by divers, with or without breathing apparatus, and any sport or professional fishing that has not been authorised in advance. Spearfishing is banned across the whole protected area. Underwater photography is expressly allowed.

Species	How often	Records
Pelagia noctiluca	occasional	15
Chromis chromis	occasional	12
Symphodus tinca	occasional	8
Diplodus vulgaris	occasional	7
Ophidiaster ophidianus	occasional	6
Centrostephanus longispinus	occasional	6
Epinephelus costae	occasional	6
Serranus scriba	occasional	6
Sphyraena viridensis	occasional	6
Aplysia fasciata	occasional	6
Muraena helena	occasional	5
Sparisoma cretense	occasional	5
Oblada melanurus	occasional	5
Paracentrotus lividus	rare	4
Coris julis	rare	4
Thalassoma pavo	rare	4
Mycteroperca rubra	rare	4
Sarpa salpa	rare	4
Pinna nobilis	rare	4
Percnon gibbesi	rare	3
Scorpaena maderensis	rare	3
Tripterygion tripteronotum	rare	3
Clavelina dellavallei	rare	2
Eriphia verrucosa	rare	2
Parablennius sanguinolentus	rare	2
Seriola dumerili	rare	2
Labrus merula	rare	2
Mullus surmuletus	rare	2
Boops boops	rare	2
Diplodus sargus	rare	2
Syngnathus typhle	rare	2
Pleraplysilla spinifera	rare	2
Ircinia oros	rare	2
Chondrosia reniformis	rare	2
Spirastrella cunctatrix	rare	2
Platydoris argo	rare	2
Petrosia (Petrosia) ficiformis	rare	2
Symphodus roissali	rare	2
Microlipophrys nigriceps	rare	2
Dardanus calidus	rare	1
Pachygrapsus marmoratus	rare	1
Scyllarides latus	rare	1
Hacelia attenuata	rare	1
Arbacia lixula	rare	1
Stylocidaris affinis	rare	1
Holothuria (Platyperona) sanctori	rare	1
Parablennius gattorugine	rare	1
Caranx crysos	rare	1
Gobius auratus	rare	1
Gobius cobitis	rare	1
Gobius paganellus	rare	1
Labrus viridis	rare	1
Anthias anthias	rare	1
Epinephelus marginatus	rare	1
Diplodus annularis	rare	1
Spondyliosoma cantharus	rare	1
Tripterygion melanurus	rare	1
Aplysilla rosea	rare	1
Hexadella racovitzai	rare	1
Dysidea fragilis	rare	1

Scoglio del Medico

Scoglio del Medico

The dive

Please note before you go

Access & rules

Certification required

Getting there

Operator

Restrictions

Rules and permits

Conditions

Questions & answers

Life recorded at Scoglio del Medico

Nearby sites in Sicilia

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