The Marine Reserve Isola di Ustica

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The first Marine Reserve in Italy was founded in Ustica in 1987 in order to keep safe the fauna and the flora of the sea surrounding the island and particularly the “Oceanic Posidonia” also called “the lung of the Mediterranean sea”. The Marine Reserve is divided into three areas based on its accessibility: Area A, the integral Marine Reserve, Area B, the general Marine Reserve and Area C, the is a partial one.
Area A:
The integral part of the Marine Reserve is bounded by the Cala Sidoti in the west and the Caletta in the east. These delightful and shallow little creeks are the only ones accessible in this area: you could swim on the sea surface and watch a wide variety of fish species. In the summertime, a fully qualified staff offers guided tours of Cala Sidoti, a long dark-pebbles bay, offers guided tours to experience the beauty of the underwater Marine Reserve. The Caletta, close to Punta Spalmatore, is a little bay which hosts the Marine Reserve Acquarium with some of the ichthyic and bentoniche species that live along the coasts of the island; in the Aquarium there are also two underwater cameras to observe the depths of the creek .
Area B:
The Punta Cavazzi lighthouse and the Natural Pool - Punta Cavazzi lighthouse, is located in the far east-south of the island, between the area B and the area C of the Marine Reserve. In the Natural Pool, one of the the most interesting place of the island, it is possible to shoot underwater photographs and to fish with a fishing pole. We also offer wonderful dive in this place at 9 and 24 meters following underwater explicative plates placed along an archaeological path.
Area C:
From Cala S. Maria to the Grotta Azzurra - Plunging from the right border of Cala S.Maria, a large natural bay and home of the port, you will reach the Blue Cave by swimming for 300 meters along the coast in the south direction. Leaving Cala S. Maria, you will meet timid octopus hidden among the curved rocks or among the wrecks and finds of roman origin. The volcanic origin cave is a 10 meters deep sandy tunnel and it is one of the six best known cave of the Area C: you will see many sedentary policheti, such as the spirografo and the sabella pavonina, among swarms of castagnole lit by the light from the mouth of cave. It is also usual to meet peacock-fishes and some mullets hidden among the dark hollows of the caves .

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