Sicily
Grotta dell'Olio (Capo Gallo, Palermo)
- Max depth30 m
- CertificationCavern
- Water temperature≈ 15–27 °C, varies with the seasonestimated, no reports yet
Diving and fills
Dive here with
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Fills nearby
- La Perla Nera DivingAir, nitrox and trimix (separate compressors plus a Haskel booster); O₂ not stated — ask
- Ustica Diving CenterAir and nitrox (max 36% O₂, €10 supplement, nitrox certification required); trimix and O₂ not stated — ask
- Blue Diving UsticaNot stated (60 cylinders in stock) — ask
The dive
The entrance is rimmed by a vermetid reef ('trottoir a vermeti'). Inside you see groupers and moray eels, now and then a dentex or amberjack, encrusting sponges and starfish; on the sand floor lie anchors and old amphorae.
Profile and sections
The entrance is rimmed by a vermetid reef ('trottoir a vermeti'). Inside you see groupers and moray eels, now and then a dentex or amberjack, encrusting sponges and starfish; on the sand floor lie anchors and old amphorae. Visibility is 15–25 m. It is a busy bay, so canoes and boats pass above you.
Of Capo Gallo's 23 caves, this is the only one with its entrance underwater.
- Depth and profile
- Underwater entrance (at low tide wide enough for a canoe), then a partly flooded cave with branches, arches, light shafts and places where you can surface; max -20 m (Duikersgids) to -30 m. Length not published.
- Configuration
- Roomy openings: recreational gear, backmount or sidemount; an easy dive according to the logs.
- DPV: Not DPV-suitable (estimate)
- Short, guided cave: no scooter.
Who can dive where
- At least Cavern
- Configurations: Backmount / twinset / Sidemount / CCR / Small cylinders / no-mount (speleo sumps)
- Goes down to 30 m (trimix or deco may be needed)
This is how the planner decides who in your team may dive this cave. Rules your own trip adds (organizer, a mail, the AI) show with your trip.
How to get there
By boat (~30 minutes) with a dive school from Palermo or Isola delle Femmine, on the west side of Capo Gallo, ~4 km from Mondello. You book through a centre, which asks the Capo Gallo–Isola delle Femmine AMP for permission; in summer people snorkel to the entrance without permission, which is not allowed.
Around Grotta dell'Olio (Capo Gallo, Palermo)
Fills3 fill stations · nearest 68 km
La Perla Nera Diving
Piazza Capitano Vito Longo 5, 90051 Ustica
Air, nitrox and trimix (separate compressors plus a Haskel booster); O₂ not stated — ask
Not stated — ask
Since 1999; the island's first PADI 5 Star centre, run by a PADI Course Director. Rebreathers are 'more than welcome'; DSAT Tec Rec and cave specialty courses; own workshop and air-quality testing. Dives the Grotta dei Gamberi, Grotta delle Cipree, Piramidi/Cirri and Punta Falconiera, among others. Ask about walk-in fills.
Ustica Diving Center
Piazza Umberto I, 90051 Ustica
Air and nitrox (max 36% O₂, €10 supplement, nitrox certification required); trimix and O₂ not stated — ask
Not stated — ask
Centre run by an islander; PADI and SSI courses, cavern/cave via SSI. Guided dive €55 (€70 with rental kit), boat passage €15, night dive €70 per the price list. Dives the Cirri, Cipree, Gamberi and Pastizza caves. Ask about walk-in fills and CCR support.
Blue Diving Ustica
Piazza Vito Longo 4, 90051 Ustica
Not stated (60 cylinders in stock) — ask
Open all year, busiest in summer
PADI centre with two 7.5 m RIBs. Dives the Grotta dei Gamberi II, Grotta della Pastizza, Scoglio del Medico ('La Balena') and the Piramidi, among others. Ask about fills and CCR support.
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