Dive Review of Altamarea Diving Center/Residence Stella Marina in
Mediterranean/Ustica

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Altamarea Diving Center/Residence Stella Marina: "Altamarea Diving Center Ustica", Jul, 2015, by Ellen Marie Smith, MN, US ( Sr. Contributor 26 reports with 14 Helpful votes). Report 8413.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	We have friends in Palermo and decided to spend a week in Ustica. The laid back feel of the beautiful island was wonderful for a break from our busy lives. There isn't that much to do on the island, but for us that was perfect. We spent each day on the boat, taking lunch aboard and ate out at quaint local restaurants in the evenings. Now for the diving : Mauro has owned and operated Altamarea diving for 20yrs. The boat "Nanu" is comfortable and the best on the island. The alternative is to take a dingy back and forth, with land breaks between. Aboard Nanu there are 2 relaxed paced dives - one before lunch and one after lunch. The dive boat doesn't have a large gearing up area, so the divers leave in waves. It takes some time to get all the gear (some is stored up front) and because the water has as much as 20 degree thermoclines, a 5 mil and hood (some wore 7 mil, one even a drysuit) are essential. Much of what you see is volcanic, though now that the water is getting warmer (global warming) there are some colorful corals growing on the underside of many rocks. There are also large areas of grassy seabeds, which I had never encountered previously. What you will see: schools of barracuda, jacks (some), octopus (which was accosted by the divers in one case), nudibranchs, large groupers, bream, lobsters, cicadas, yellowtail tuna and jellyfish. The divemasters were professional and helpful. My husband (who is fluent in Italian and German) and I enjoyed the meals and camaraderie aboard, though he had an easier time holding conversations than I did. The only turtle we saw was a little one brought over from another boat.(yes, they had taken it out of the water to show us...ugh) At one point, someone took an octopus out of the water as well. These types of actions I had not seen before and did not appreciate. There are caves (caverns really) and I found some fabulous anemone crabs, shrimp and other small critters. The days were beautiful but I'm usually up for more diving. However, 2 dives a day for a week was relaxing and we came home refreshed. Mauro and crew kept us safe, happy and well fed. Bellissimo!
Websites	Altamarea Diving Center Residence Stella Marina
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Red Sea, Galapagos, Hawaii, Caribbean (Cozumel, Belize, Turneffe, Utila, Turks & Caicos, St. Martin, Nevis & St. Kitts), California
Closest Airport	Palermo, Italy	Getting There	via Rome, Palermo by car to ferry
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, no currents
Water Temp	56-75°F / 13-24°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	40-100 Ft/ 12-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Diving with divemaster strictly enforced. Groups of 4-6, sometimes fewer.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals	N/A	Tropical Fish	N/A
Small Critters	N/A	Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	No rinse tank, can rinse with hose on back of boat. Setup not idea for serious photographers.

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Dive Review of Altamarea Diving Center/Residence Stella Marina in Mediterranean/Ustica

Altamarea Diving Center/Residence Stella Marina: "Altamarea Diving Center Ustica", Jul, 2015,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Altamarea Diving Center/Residence Stella Marina in
Mediterranean/Ustica