Operator page with the statue, bay location, and marine-life cues.
Sheltered Leuca wall dive under the lighthouse.
Sheltered Leuca wall dive under the lighthouse.
A local boat operator is the practical way to reach the bay site and manage the deeper wall sections.
Punta Meliso is a sheltered Leuca bay dive under the lighthouse, centered on a statue at mid-depth and two colorful walls that suit a wide range of certification levels. The appeal is the mix of dramatic coastal scenery, easy-to-read structure, and a classic Salento marine backdrop.
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
14m - 50m
Depth Note
The statue sits at about 14m, while public descriptions place the walls much deeper, around 50m on both sides.
Best Season
Year-round
Typical Conditions
Sheltered bay with two walls, a statue, and clear-water windows when the sea is calm.
Site conditions, restrictions, and access requirements.
Site Conditions
Safety Notes
Keep an eye on buoyancy around the wall and the statue. The site is sheltered, but deeper wall sections and changing bay conditions still call for a guide.
Access Restrictions
Use a local boat operator from Santa Maria di Leuca; the full site is not a casual walk-in beach entry.
Legal Notes
Punta Meliso sits within the Costa Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca and Bosco di Tricase Park, so protected-area rules apply.
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
A classic Leuca wall dive with a landmark statue, colorful walls, and options from easy profiles to deeper wall exploration.
Freediving
Freediving is only sensible in the sheltered shallows on calm days; the wall profile is really a scuba feature.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling can work in the protected bay on calm days, but the walls and statue are the main draw for divers.
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Planning answers for access, conditions, timing, and site logistics.
Last Updated
Research Sources
Operator page with the statue, bay location, and marine-life cues.
Official tourism page placing Punta Meliso inside the protected park area.
Hydrographic notice describing the bay between Punta Ristola and Punta Meliso as a refuge from certain winds.
Know this site? Improve Spot Details.

Peschereccio Greco: Salento wreck with rich macro life.

La Cattedrale is a Leuca boat dive of canyons and mushroom rocks.

Leuca boat secca with gorgonians and strong currents.

Archaeological boat dive with Roman anchors and macro life

Deep boat dive in a sulfur-tinged wall-and-canyon setting