Santa Marina Salina

Santa Marina Salina, Isola di Salina.

Coordinates in degrees decimal:  N 38.562778, E 14.874722

Visited over several years up to 2017.  Photographer: Peter Barfield (all copyright held by PB).   Camera:  Canon G10 with bespoke housing.

Not truly a resort as these photos were primarily based around snorkelling off the beaches at Santa Marina,  Salina.  Nearest beach front hotel is http://www.hotelpuntabarone.it/.   Other images were from a more widespread area, including off Panarea (N 38.62789, E 15.06563), Milazzo (N 38.26807, E 15.225)  and Vulcano ( N38.41752, E 14.96039). 

Seabed habitats range from exposed rock and large boulders, frequently with coralline algal cover, rock with silt cover, artificial concrete surfaces, cobbles, sand, Posidonia and other seagrass beds.  

Check out the original website at:  http://www.seanature.co.uk/aeolian_islands_sicily.html

Map illustrates the area around Santa Marina Salina, where the majority of the images were collected, with three snorkeling locations highlighted.  Entry points are off the adjacent beaches.

Typical seabed habitat of the region  with numerous sea urchins grazing over a coralline algal covered, boulder rock surface

Slightly disorientating seabed habitat comprising of substantial concrete structures, with new growths of coralline algae and numerous grazing molluscs. Artificial defences were evident at several locations, particularly off Salina 1 and adjacent Salina 2.

Substantial stands of Posidonia evident further off shore at Salina locations 1 and 3.  

Beautiful example of a Mauve Stinger, which may be found in many open locations in the Mediterranean.  Avoid contact though, as tentacles provide a toxic sting.

Resort Sealife Photos

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Wide Eyed Flounder.  Pleuronectiformes.  Bothus podas.  Very well disguised individual over shallow water, sandy habitat.

Atlantic Lizardfish.  Aulopiformes.  Synodus saurus.    Frequently found, well camouflaged, in sand or over sand covered rock.  

Mediterranean Moray or Roman Eel.  Anguilliformes.  Muraena helena.  Medium to large species, living amongst rocks, generally in water greater than 5m.

Marbled Electric Ray.  Torpediniformes.  Torpedo marmorata.  May be found over rock, seagrass, sand and mud.  This example was probably a commercial discard.  Electric shock delivered by this species can be severe.

Tompot Blenny.  Perciformes.  Parablennius gattorugine. Moderate sized species, with characteristic lappets above the eyes.

Sphynx Blenny. Perciformes.  ?Aidablennius sphynx.  Small to very small in size.  Typically found in very shallow water with a degree of sunlight exposure. 

Black-headed Blenny.   Perciformes.  Microlipophyrs nigriceps.  Very small species with a characteristic black head.

Comber.  Perciformes.  Serranus cabrilla.  Generally small species, but ranging from very shallow water to greater than 200m.

Ocellated Wrasse.  Perciformes.  Symphodus ocellatus.  Small species preferring shallow water rock or seagrass habitats. Note male and female in what appears to be a nest.