Italian dive logbook; depth profile, wall features, red coral, Zone B AMP confirmation
Pinnacle in Punta Campanella MPA; gorgonian wall, pelagics, strong currents.
Pinnacle in Punta Campanella MPA; gorgonian wall, pelagics, strong currents.
Scoglio a Penna is a distinctive rock formation that closes the eastern end of Ieranto Bay on the Sorrento Peninsula, rising from the Punta Campanella Marine Reserve's Zone B. The rock takes its name from its feather or quill shape, and the dive follows a circuit around its perimeter, beginning with a shallow crevasse covered in yellow-orange parazoanthus that creates photogenic light plays, then transitioning down the wall where Eunicella singularis corals, red and yellow gorgonians, and dense paramuricee colonies build from mid-depth toward the outer face. The site sits in the corridor between the Gulf of Naples and Gulf of Salerno, which brings nutrient-rich currents and regular pelagic traffic alongside the resident reef community. Diving requires prior authorization from the AMP Punta Campanella office and is most practical with a local dive operator given the boat-access-only approach.
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
6m - 45m
Depth Note
Crevasse at approximately 6-7m with parazoanthus; main wall from 15m; outer rock face drops beyond 45m with paramuricee red coral. Typical recreational profile to 20m; deeper sections for advanced divers only.
Best Season
Spring and summer offer the most settled conditions. Late spring (April to June) is particularly favourable with good visibility and manageable currents. Autumn remains diveable for experienced divers. Surface swell from winter and spring northwest winds (maestrale) can occasionally interrupt dives.
Typical Conditions
Boat dive on a rock pinnacle rising in an inter-gulf corridor. Crevasse at shallow depth transitions to a gorgonian wall at mid-depth and a deeper outer face exceeding recreational limits. Currents from the Gulf of Salerno are common; visibility typically excellent due to open-sea position and current flushing.
Site conditions, restrictions, and access requirements.
Site Conditions
Safety Notes
Nutrient-rich currents from the Gulf of Salerno run past this site; stay close to the rock formation throughout the dive to avoid being swept away from the reef. The outer wall exceeds recreational limits; plan depth carefully. Surface swell can affect the buoy and entry. Diving without valid AMP Punta Campanella authorization is prohibited.
Access Restrictions
Located within a marine park.
Legal Notes
Scoglio a Penna falls within Zone B of the AMP Punta Campanella Marine Protected Area. Prior written authorization from the AMP office is required for diving. Contact info@puntacampanella.org for current access rules and diving permits. Independent (non-guided) diving without authorization is not permitted in this zone.
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
The standard circuit starts from the buoy and works around the rock, typically beginning on the north face and traversing the crevasse at shallow depth before descending to the main wall section. Route can be dived in either direction; local guides often adjust based on current direction. The outer face descends beyond recreational limits with increasing gorgonian density; most divers plan profiles to the main wall. Use of a dive flag and buoy mandatory in AMP Zone B.
Freediving
Not suitable for casual freediving; AMP Zone B regulations restrict unguided activity. The shallow crevasse section is feasible for experienced freedivers with authorization, but strong inter-gulf currents and regulatory requirements make this site impractical for unguided breath-hold diving.
Snorkeling
Snorkelling access is restricted under AMP Zone B regulations. The site requires boat access and authorization; casual surface snorkelling is not practical. The shallow crevasse at 6-7m may be partially visible from the surface in calm conditions but requires a dive to fully experience.
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
Italian dive logbook; depth profile, wall features, red coral, Zone B AMP confirmation
Dive log with gorgonian species, route flexibility, surface conditions note
AMP Punta Campanella general diving information and regulations overview
Punta Campanella Diving Center; primary local operator for AMP area
Know this site? Improve Spot Details.

Boat-access Punta Campanella promontory dive with pipeline steps and walls.

Scoglio del Vervece: boat-only wall dive with barracuda and gorgonians.

Famous Gulf of Naples shoal with coral walls and big fish

Shallow Roman harbor ruins in a submerged park

Baia pylons and fumaroles on a shallow boat dive.

Procida wall dive with gorgonians and fish life.