Mediterranean coral reef of Calafuria

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Calafuria coral reef near Livorno is one of the most beautiful coastal areas in Tuscany in the stretch from Quercianella to Livorno. Overlooking the sea, this splendid cliff continues its profile even under the sea surface until it reaches a depth of 36 meters, a short distance from the shore, and then rests on a seabed of sandy debris mixed with mud. Scogliera coralligena di calafuria

La Scogliera di Calafuria a Livorno - Calafuria reef near Livorno - www.intotheblue.it
La Scogliera di Calafuria a Livorno – Calafuria reef near Livorno – www.intotheblue.it

Wild area covered by a luxuriant Mediterranean scrub with the Livorno hills behind it. From here you can admire a unique panorama that includes the closest island of Gorgona, the island of Capraia and on clear days you can easily see Corsica, the Promontory of Piombino and the entire Island of Elba. The beauty of the coast led in 1962 the director Dino Risi to shoot here a part of the famous film “Il Sorpasso” which contributed to making the hamlet of Castiglioncello famous all over the world.

Scogliera coralligena di Calafuria con corallo rosso - Corallium rubrum - Coral reef of Calafuria with Precious coral - www.intotheblue.it
Scogliera coralligena di Calafuria con corallo rosso – Corallium rubrum – Coral reef of Calafuria with Precious coral – www.intotheblue.it

For divers and sea lovers Calafuria represents a real underwater paradise. It is easily accessible from the ground, both for those who dive with cylinders, and for those who free dive or who like to snorkel, and therefore there is no need for support boats and assistance from the surface. You can dive in absolute safety by reaching the bottom and then slowly rising to the surface following the profile of the seabed. You can stay on the so-called “No-decompression dives” because the depth is relatively challenging. It is a real training and equipment test gym for those who then want to do challenging dives.

Scogliera coralligena mediterranea di Calafuria - Mediterranean coral reef of Calafuria - www.intotheblue.it
Scogliera coralligena mediterranea di Calafuria – Mediterranean coral reef of Calafuria – www.intotheblue.it

Above all we want to highlight the exuberant biological life of the coral reef. Biodiversity enhances the characteristics of the flora and fauna of the Mediterranean Sea. Here it is possible to admire colonies of red coral (Corallium rubrum), of red gorgonians (Paramuricea clavata), of various kinds of sponges typical of the Mediterranean coral beds, etc. The fauna is also a truly unique concentrate of life and it is not possible to describe all the species present in such a short space. We will mention by way of example the presence of groupers, bream, crows, mullets, sea bass, lobsters, scorpion fish red, pelagic fish such as barracuda, atlantic bonito, amberjack, mahi mahi, etc.

Scogliera coralligena di Calafuria con corallo rosso - Corallium rubrum - Coral reef of Calafuria with Precious coral - www.intotheblue.it
Scogliera coralligena di Calafuria con corallo rosso – Corallium rubrum – Coral reef of Calafuria with Precious coral – www.intotheblue.it

The film made highlights some of the aspects described but leaves ample space for all those who imagine the beauty of the submerged life of the Mediterranean. We see the impact of human activities both recent and through the centuries: from lost fishing nets, from the various longliner abandoned used to catch fishes, from fishing lines grabbed from the bottom, etc. However, once again we want to draw the attention of those who love the sea that this area is also affected by climate change and environmental warming.

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