The
Sea Treasures Even
under the water, Alassio is unique, with its
white sand reminding one of tropical beaches.
Its large sandy beach reaching 50 meters in
width at various points is as long as the town,
following the coast, forming a large protected
shallow depth gulf for hundreds of meters.
It is the Bay of Alassio, large and sandy and
without currents. At the centre of the town,
perpendicularly to the coast, there is a long
landing-stage with, at its extremity, a depth
of only 3 metres, frequented by huge shoals
of grey mullets and isolated striped breams.
If we carry on westward, we reach the promontory
of Capo Santa Croce behind which is the tourist
port of Alassio. The most interesting depths
for those wanting to admire a varied and colourful
underwater environment, start after the harbour,
particularly around Punta Murena. Parallel to
the coast, a number of reefs are scattered as
far as to the town border with Albenga. Here
even under a few metres of water fishes of various
types, shellfish, Gastropods, Cephalopods and
Lammelibrancs can be seen. There are multicoloured
rainbow rasse, scorpion fish camouflaged among
the rocks, octopus and even the ever suspicious
cuttlefish.
But one can run into white breams, particularly
after a heavy sea, as well as into some giltheads.
Swimming towards the open sea, the sand is interrupted
by majestic prairies of posidonia, where corvines
hide.
Shells of various types can be found on the
sand, particularly murexes.
Reaching
Capo Lena, low and stony because of the debris
brought by the River Centa, the depth does not
present any attractions for underwater diving,
except when the northern wind blows and the
water clears. In this case one can run into
some big bass attracted by the brackish water.
Off
the Gallinara Island, to be admired only from
the surface, since swimming and diving is forbidden,
about 500 metres to the East of the Island there
is a wonderful wreck, the merchant ship Umberto
I lying on the sand about 50 metres down.
Finally, just in front of Albenga there is one
of the most interesting archeological areas
in Italy. In the area centered at 44° 03N.8°
15E some decades ago was found the wreck of
a Roman ship carrying thousands of amphoras,
therefore in this area and within a range of
300 metres, fishing, anchoring and diving are
forbidden.
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