Miseno Bay Reef

Cape Miseno marks the western jaw of the Gulf of Naples, and the rocky volcanic reef that extends from its headland supports one of the most diverse benthic communities in the northern Tyrrhenian — posidonia meadows at 10 to 20 metres give way to vertical basalt walls encrusted with yellow and red gorgonians, sponges, and a dense coating of encrusting bryozoans that glow orange under a torch. The cape was the base of the imperial Roman fleet, and scattered amphorae and ballast stones still rest on the sand between the reef spurs, giving every dive a mild treasure-hunt quality. Grouper here are notably bold, a legacy of longstanding informal protection by the local diving community.