Il Medico
Ustica Island · Italy
Il Medico is Ustica's signature dive — a volcanic wall and pinnacle system on the island's northwestern tip where the marine reserve's strictest protection zone has produced grouper of astonishing size and number. Giant grouper — locally called cernia — hover between divers with zero fear, their bulk casting shadows across the reef. Posidonia meadows at the base transition upward through gorgonian-draped ledges to a current-swept pinnacle top crowded with bream and damselfish.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 50 m
Advanced depths
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
25 to 40 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
14 to 28°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 18 | 15 |
| Vis (m) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 20 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Dusky grouper
Last confirmed Jul 14, 2025 · 21 records
Very likely
Most dives
Ornate wrasse
Last confirmed Jul 14, 2025 · 9 records
Very likely
Most dives
Purple Sea Star
Last confirmed Jul 14, 2025 · 16 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Red gorgonian
Last confirmed Sep 19, 2024 · 2 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Common Two-Banded Seabream
Last confirmed Jul 11, 2025 · 9 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Yellowmouth Barracuda
Last confirmed Jul 11, 2025 · 9 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Salema Porgy
Last confirmed Jul 14, 2025 · 11 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Barred hogfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear