Ricci Matita

This dive site, known as Il Riccio Matita (Stylocidaris Affinis), is a popular location in Catania, Sicily. It features a diverse seabed composed of both rocky and sandy areas, offering an engaging dive experience for experienced divers. The area is characterized by the abundance of Stylocidaris Affinis sea urchins – one of the most common species in the Mediterranean – with their spines reaching up to 20 centimeters in length. Visibility can vary, but a gradual descent through the blue depths leads to a prominent promontory at approximately 40 meters, where Gorgonia Paramuricea Clavata and lava rocks provide habitat for many sea urchins. For technical divers, there’s an opportunity to explore down to 51 meters, encountering the fascinating Cerianthus genus – a type of antozoan cnidarian. The dive path typically begins in a bay under the Diving center, proceeds along a rocky wall at around 15 meters, then continues into deeper waters, eventually reaching sandy areas at 51 meters where the Cerianthus can be observed. Divers may also encounter large groupers (Diplodus), eagle rays (Myliobatis Aquila) and various types of moray eels (Muraenidae).