Ustica · about 1 km from Ustica
Grotta dei Gamberi
- Max depth50 m
- CertificationIntro to cave
- SpecialExperienced divers
Diving and fills
Dive here with
Fills nearby
- Fill stationLa Perla Nera DivingAir, nitrox and trimix (separate compressors plus a Haskel booster); O₂ not stated — askRoute ↗
- Fill stationUstica Diving CenterAir and nitrox (max 36% O₂, €10 supplement, nitrox certification required); trimix and O₂ not stated — askRoute ↗
- Fill stationBlue Diving UsticaNot stated (60 cylinders in stock) — askRoute ↗
What it looks like
All 1 videos and posts
Videos and posts
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Other people's footage, not advice: how someone else dives here says nothing about what suits your team. Dive within your training.
The dive
Ustica's best-known cave dive. The usual route follows the left wall to the exit tunnel. The cave is named after the huge numbers of red shrimp (Plesionika narval) on walls, ceiling and floor, which light up in your torch.
Profile and sections
Ustica's best-known cave dive. The usual route follows the left wall to the exit tunnel. The cave is named after the huge numbers of red shrimp (Plesionika narval) on walls, ceiling and floor, which light up in your torch. Also lobsters, moray eels, groupers, hermit crabs and fan mussels on the sand.
Dive centres call it one of the island's hardest dives: deep, dark in the main chamber, and the sand can reduce visibility. Sometimes there is current on descent and ascent. A shallower second cave lies at the same point.
- Depth and profile
- Entrance ~-39/-42 m (AMP list 39 m; two dive centres 42 m), a wide, low arch. Large high chamber with sandy floor at ~-42 m, locally to -50 m according to one centre. Exit tunnel of ~20 m to narrow exits at -24 to -34 m. One source gives entrance -26 m and max -40 m.
- Configuration
- All configurations; wide entrance and roomy chamber, narrow exits. Arrange CCR, diluent and bailout with the dive centre in advance.
- DPV: Not DPV-suitable
- Scooters are banned in the AMP unless the AMP authorises them on application.
Who can dive where
- At least Intro to cave
- Configurations: Backmount / twinset / Sidemount / CCR / Small cylinders / no-mount (speleo sumps)
- Goes down to 50 m (trimix or deco may be needed)
- Experienced divers only
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
Zone C, at Punta Galera on the south coast; by boat with an AMP-authorised dive centre on the island. You descend along a lava tongue to the sandy bottom at the entrance. Cave dives guided only, in daylight, max 4 divers per guide and max 2 dives per day in this cave; everyone, guide included, needs a cave speciality certification. From 1 June to 30 September only in the first and third week of each month. Independent divers may not enter.
Around Grotta dei Gamberi
Fills3 fill stations · nearest 1 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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Caves nearby2 within 3 km
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