Diving in the northern Adriatic have always been a source of great divergence of opinion and this article would like to depose in their favor.
It is a rich sea to discover and always underestimated and that is why we were created by many organizations and initiatives that aim to inform and make the most of this marine ecosystem, which in effect is a Bio-marine resource.
Few know that the Gulf of Trieste, for its structure, receives highly oxygenated waters due to the currents that originate from Croatia and revolve within it and then push the Venetian and beyond.
If we consider that Trieste is a port that receives ships from around the world that run every day of the bilge water emptying, it is easy to see that an eco-system thus conformed is the place for new contamination that can easily settle in the form of new especially by ensuring them a consolidated adaptation.
The low depth, moreover, favor the propagation velocity of these egg masses.
To take full advantage of this biodiversity invasion, Sistiana is one of the places recommended and, while not promising deep water and colorful, it will surely bring home unique and special shots.
The entire bay is surrounded by cliff walls that anticipate an evolutionary and biological history dating back millions of years ago. Suffice to say that a 10-minute drive towards Duino is a field where they were discovered at least two dinosaurs and numerous fossils of shellfish remains, echinoderms, molluscs and much more.
Sistiana offers two accesses to the beach: Castelreggio and Ex Caravella
Wherever you decide to go into the water, be prepared for an exciting muck dive.
You could start with a visit to the wreck of the Molch, which is a piece of history: the famous Molch, a submarine car of 8 meters which lies at a depth of 6. If you decide for this subject is superfluous to say that the choice of target it is not irrelevant, but even more so is the weather which, apart from that day, preceded the dive date. In my experience the months between winter and spring are preferable…but you know how the sea…do not take orders!
If you do not decide for the wreck and your goal is macro photography, Castelrezzo, as well as the Ex Caravella, lend themselves to stimulate the shutter button!
Becoming , with time , a little more practical in the area are discovered several directions to be addressed to reach areas , in addition to the muddy bottom , concretion abounding tunicates , among which is not unusual to find planarians , the squat lobsters meetings d’winter seem more approachable; echinoderms , with considerable concentrations of brittle stars , well camouflaged pecten star, urchins and many different kinds , but many sea cucumbers in many times of the year they have generously with everted tentacles .
If you had to move to the left of Castelreggio, you will not fail to meet spectacular clusters of worms that settle the tops of the floats that support the neighboring mussel farms. You do not think that the limo that will cross between a concretion and a group of boulders is the desert…Rather! On the sediment meet big cerianthi and a huge number of sand anemones, sometimes with amazing colors; Frequently are anemonie viridis and sulcata with its guests. Less obvious, but no less frequent, many types of shellfish, including various macropodia, Ilia nucleus and gradually a plethora of shrimp infossatori and not up to the field Peliclimenes amethisteus, they really like to photographers. No shortage of sponges, by encrusting forms to the more “medicinal”. Very similar structures are confused with sponges, but in reality are nothing but ascidians that abound on the smooth rocks of the area.
Whether it sponges or colonial ascidians, it is worth keeping gaze longer, as they often are finding interesting places of nudibranchs.
In this regard it is worth spending a few more words. In Sistiana area they were found dozens and dozens of species of sea slugs, many considered rare and here, however, endemic: some examples are DICATA odhneri, Tethys fimbria, Discodoris rosi and a long list of sightings in recent years is increasing.
The seabed well described continues to grow to the opposite side of the bay, Ex Caravella, where the diving. A change, however, is done with the meeting of large boulders and landslides full of ravines that spacing out silt and Scoglietti, leading to the cliff wall that extends up to Duino and beyond.
The entry into the water here is in the area where the Sistiana Diving Center, operated by Andrea Sauro and underwater photographer known, Barbara Camassa.
The sea access is easy or between boulders, or walking from the pebble beach, which quickly degrades to some meter deep.
Deciding to plunge toward the cliff or to the part that looks at the wider you make two very different choices
In the first case boulders of various sizes and agglomerates of small rocks ranging in the form of differences in height from a minimum of 1-meter-deep, up to sweet drops that reach to 9 meters, to find greater depths must proceed towards the wide area in the middle of silt and boats passing zone. Too bad the coastal guard is more attentive to punish the sub without the ball that the vessel does not meet the balloons and the distances from the shore…but I think it’s an old story.
Returning to our underwater islands, more experienced photographers will have already guessed that one of the places to beat are these, though not always go well, according to the laws of the sea, for that matter! But if the meeting takes place, then the fortune can be of a very high level.
Surely the meeting with seahorses is ensured, both Mediterranean species, as well as one with their fellow fish large needle.
Jellyfish lately are almost home, including a new species came from a couple of years.
No shortage cuttlefish, seppiole and their eggs that offer great opportunities to snap embryos.
And it’s difficult, in short, to list everything, because the effect of weather sealing of the Mediterranean waters is being felt here too with continuous surprises.
What to remember: the diver signal buoy, to avoid misguided boats and heavy fines of captaincy.
A compass, needed more than ever to navigate the sedimentosa area and beyond. buoyancy control, decided not to fog definitely your shooting area.
Why dive in Sistiana?
Because there is a wide variety of subjects.
Because it is shallow diving and low risk virtually no time limits. Because logistics is also convenient for large groups.
What to visit?
Miramare castle, beneath which there is also a marine reserve.
The paleontological site Fisherman’s Village, where it was found the largest and most complete dinosaur skeleton of Italy.
WORDS and PICTURES by Franco De Lorenzi
