The Cave of the Sirens in Palmi

If you follow the vertical wall that runs north from Punta Motta, you’ll come across, at a bend, the entrance to an enormous cave at a depth of about 25 meters, known as the “Cave of the Sirens.” The cave is divided into three main chambers, the last of which is a small opening adorned with numerous stalactites. Entry into the cave is restricted to experienced divers with the appropriate certification. Visibility there is generally good, and from inside the first chamber, through a large opening, you can gaze out into the blue of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Numerous shrimp of various species inhabit the crevices of the cave. Where the sun hits the side walls, you can admire the vibrant colors of sponges, red algae, sea squirts, and cnidarians, among which small scorpionfish and various species of snails can be found. As we ascend toward the grotto’s exit, we are accompanied all the way to the surface by dense schools of monkfish and Mediterranean wrasse.