Isola Gallinara, Liguria - Italy

First dive back home in Italy! 

The meeting point was in Loano, Province of Savona, Liguria, around 220 km from where I am staying in Milano.  I had met up with Milano Sub during the week and joined their Whatsapp group thanks to Stefania.  

L'isola Gallinara is near Albenga, lower left of Liguria in the Gulf of Genova

 

Isola Gallinara - the island in the shape of a turtle! 

Andrea was the organiser and I arranged to meet up with him at 9am at the Marina Divinng Shop in Loano. My trusty dive bag finally needs replacing after around 20 years of use - not bad! A wheel buckled. This meant dragging it from the car park to the dive shop along the marina.

Marina Diving Shop Loano

 I was expecting a club RIB (rigged inflatable boat) but it was actually a decent size boat.

The journey out to Isola Gallinara took around 25 minutes.  The island has been protected from 1989 as the Riserva Naturale Regionale dell'Isola Gallinara.

 

 

 

 

Christ the Redeemer

Entry: 11:03

Dive time: 57 min

Depth: 25.9m

Temp:  24 degrees C 

Weights:  9 kg

Insulation: Dry suit without inner body warmer

 

 

 

 

 

Punta Sciusciau 

Entry: 13:23

Dive time: 42 min

Depth: 23.8m

Temp:  24 degrees C 

Weights:  9 kg

Insulation: Dry suit WITHOUT body warmer

 

 

Post-dive foccacia

Cirkewwa Anchor Bay, Sampling of Invasive Species - Malta (Dives 6 and 7)

The objective of this dive was for the students to take part in a meaningful and sustainable  project where they were able to contribute to conservation efforts of the island.

Before the dive, students took part in a theoretical session at the Pergola Hotel where the following topics were covered:

• Introduction to the Cirkewwa marine park
• Biodiversity - invasive species / EDGE conservation
• Study of fireworms & sponges
• Presentation of the Scientific Method  

The presentation was led by Marco, the Director of Diving of Go Dive Malta. Throughout the dive vacation Marco was a great dive guide looking after all of the students making sure it was a thoroughly enjoyable, informative and unforgettable experience.

 

A presentation was given by Davi Teles from EDGE, and the EDGE of Existence programme which is a unique global conservation initiative specifically focusing on threatened species which represent a significant amount of unique evolutionary history.

 

EDGE are continuously developing the scientific foundation of conservation work and more informatin on its current research activities can be found here.

Teams used the following board to record: Abundance, Associated with, Behaviour e.g. feeding, Crawling etc. (Ignore blue heading)

MALTA#6  Anchor Bay Sampling  (First team)

Entry: 10:13

Dive time: 32 min

Depth: 18.3m

Temp: 25 degrees C

Weights: 6kg (2 over)

Insultaion: 5mm wet suit 

Group: M, F, A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Damselfish, Castegnola (Chromis chromis)

 

 

Bearded fireworm

   

 

Dusky grouper, Cernia bruna (Ephinephelus guaza)

Red scorpion fish, Scorfano rosso (scorpaena scrofa)

Moray eel, Murena (Muraena helena)

Red starfish, Stella rossa (Echinaster sepositus)

Octopus, Polpo (Octopus vulgaris)

 

MALTA#7  Anchor Bay Sampling (Second team)

Entry: 11:42

Dive time: 38 min

Depth: 18.6 m

Temp: 25 degrees C

Weights: 6kg (2 over)

Insultaion: 5mm wet suit

Group: Y, N, A

Bearded Fireworm - Hermodice carunculata

Striped red mullet

 

Ornate wrasse - Donzella pavonina, Thalassoma pavo (adult male) tricky to take picture as it's always swimming around

Octopus