Scuba Diving

378 Videos
Giant triton – Charonia tritonis – Tritone mediterraneo-2023-11-01-15h01m21s141
23
04:22

Giant triton

Meeting Giant triton - Charonia tritonis - always arouses a strong emotion, both because it is the largest mollusk in the Mediterranean Sea and because it is increasingly rare. Fortunately here on intotheblue.it we have published several videos of this splendid shell so despite all the alarms we give about the health of our sea, when we encounter the Triton the hope that the sea can really regenerate itself returns to be present. ...
Unknow species Specie sconosciuta-10-19-14h13m05s681
11
02:06

Unknow species

This video was taken last Saturday (14/10/2023) during an inshore dive at about 15 meters deep. I mention the precise date because during the canonical 3 minutes of decompression at a depth of 3 meters hanging from the chain of one of the "safe water" signaling buoys, about 200 meters from the rocky and jagged coast, I decide to check the temperature of the water and the computer measured 25°C. ...
Piero Foscari ship wreck Relitto nave Piero Foscari www.intotheblue.it-2023-10-10-11h57m19s238
12
12:42

Piero Foscari ship wreck

September 10, 2023 marked the eightieth year since the sinking of the Piero Foscari ship on September 10, 1943 in Castiglioncello near Livorno (Italy). In this video I show you what remains of the wreck completely destroyed during the last war. Furthermore, after 80 years the sea has caused further deterioration of the structure. The wreck is located at a depth of between 15 and 16 metres.
Emperor Angelfish Pesce Angelo Imperatore Pomacanthus imperator www.intotheblue.it-2023-05-07-16h35m38s128
10
03:37

Emperor Angelfish Pomacanthus imperator

The Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) is a species of marine angelfish. It is a reef-associated fish, native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from Red Sea to Hawai and the Austral Islands. This species is generally associated with stable populations and faces no major threats of extinction. It is a favorite of photographers, artists, and aquarists because of its unique, brilliant pattern of coloration.
Calyx nicaeensis Spugna Calice Goblet sponge www.intotheblue.it -2023-05-01-17h32m39s382
13
03:21

Calyx nicaeensis Goblet Sponge

I met this Calyx nicaeensis, Goblet Sponge, during a dive in the reefs of the Secche di Vada near Livorno. The name owes it to its characteristic goblet shape. According to some experts, this sponge has become extremely rare in the Mediterranean because it requires very stable water temperature and biological conditions: small variations are enough to decree its disappearance. We all know by now that climate change has a heavy impact on biological life, but few seem to realize that it also affects the deep sea.
T_European conger – Grongo – Conger conger – www.intotheblue.it-2023-09-05-20h45m23s530
14
04:22

European conger

Common conger is a bony sea fish belonging to the Congridae family. Here we see it in its lair at a depth of about 52 metres, on a muddy seabed at the base of a beautiful vertical wall, even a few meters high, of rock and coral. As we see, the wall is colonized by many Mediterranean organisms such as sponges, corals and gorgonians, full of caves and ravines where these fish seek shelter during the day and food during the night. ...
Paramuricea clavata gorgonia rossa-2023-08-20-08h10m23s042
10
10:35

Paramuricea clavata - Red gorgonian - Reproduction

In this dive of August 15, 2023 we filmed an event that has not yet been documented much in our Mediterranean Sea. This is the reproduction of the red Gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata). Like every year in summer, this beautiful coral reproduces with the synchronized emission of male and female gametes released by the polyps which open by extruding thin semi-transparent filaments exceptionally long up to 5 cm. ...
Squid eggs – Uova di Calamaro – www.intotheblue.it-2023-08-06-11h03m34s338
14
05:10

Squid eggs

In these two different dives at a depth ranging from about 40 to 50 meters, we filmed the eggs of the European squid (Loligo vulgaris) laid in completely different ways. In the first dive we found them in what would appear to be the optimal situation, i.e. in a hole near the red Gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata), therefore certainly in an area where a constant flow of current and therefore oxygenation is guaranteed ...
Spiny starfish Stella marina spinosa-2023-07-17-17h28m41s252
15
06:50

Spiny starfish Martasteria

Martasteria or Thorny starfish (Marthasterias glacialis Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most common starfish in the Mediterranean Sea, it is an echinoderm of the Asteriidae family. In this video we see it lying on a cliff that varies from 41 to 49 meters deep, rich in red Gorgonians of the Paramuricea clavata species and the classic yellow sponges of the Verongia species, therefore a guaranteed show of colors at the expense, however, of the visibility of the water about two or three meters. ...
T_Cylinder anemone Cerianthus membranaceus Anemone-2023-07-02-09h45m23s019
12
04:52

Cylinder anemone

Cylindrical or Cylinder anemone, Cerianthus membranaceus, (anemone cilindrico), is one of the species of deep sea anemones typical of the Mediterranean Sea. Autochthonous to the Mediterranean Sea, it can also be found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, on sandy or muddy bottoms from a few meters up to 40 meters deep, even if in this dive we are on a rock and sand bottom that varies from 45 to 48 meters deep. ...
T_Red scorpionfish – Scorpaena scrofa – Scorfano rosso – www.intotheblue.it-2023-06-26-14h50m24s850
21
05:50

Red scorpionfish

In this beautiful dive we met many specimens of Red scorpionfish, Scorpaena scrofa, and these that we see in the video are particularly large, almost a meter long. This species is typical of the Mediterranean Sea and we have met them at a depth of 52/53 meters in what would be their ideal habitat, i.e. the typical coralline seabed full of holes and ravines where Gorgonians and sponges thrive on which they settle perch waiting to launch some ambush to fish like the red damselfish.
Glass Ctenophore Bolinopsis vitrea Ctenoforo di vetro intotheblue.it-2023-06-05-22h10m23s926
15
05:09

Wanderers of the sea - Glass Ctenophore

Also this summer we met one of the many "wanderers of the sea" that is one of those species such as tunicate jellyfish and ctenophores that let themselves be carried away by the currents, reducing their movements to a minimum. We are talking about the Glass Ctenophore - Bolinopsis vitrea - which we have already filmed some time ago, this specimen seems quite old but as soon as touched it showed us the splendid reflections of bioluminescence that the ctenophores activate when they are stimulated. ...
Penna di mare Sea pen Pennatula phosphorea www.intotheblue.it -2023-02-06-14h27m39s312
14
03:31

Sea pen Pennatula phosphorea

Sea pens are colonial marine cnidarians belonging to the order Pennatulacea. There are 14 families within the order and 35 extant genera; it is estimated that of 450 described species, around 200 are valid. Sea pens have a cosmopolitan distribution, being found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide, as well as from the intertidal to depths of more than 6100 m.Sea pens are grouped with the octocorals, together with sea whips (gorgonians).
Moray eel Murena helena Murena Mediterranea www.intotheblue.it-2023-05-27-14h45m16s174
12
09:49

Moray

Moray Eel is often identified as an aggressive and dangerous fish but as we can see from this video it is anything but an "evil titan of the seas". We are on a rocky and coral seabed typical of the Mediterranean Sea at about 46/48 meters deep, where we often meet the Mediterranean moray Moray eel, Muraena helena, and in this case it is seen in the typical diurnal pose, i.e. with the head and a small part of the body outside its den while it rests from the nocturnal raids in search of food but always vigilant in controlling its own territory. ...
mediterranean coral reef scogliera corallina mediterranea www.intotheblue.it-2023-03-23-15h51m08s725
14
21:12

Submerged marine life

Under the surface of the sea an exuberant life is "hidden" that develops in three dimensions, full of countless beings so different from each other where the competition for life sometimes becomes dramatic but always finds a delicate balance of coexistence. The interest in observation leads us to appreciate a wonderful aquatic life, both animal and plant, present at all depths.
T_Phorbas tenacior Blue Sponge Spugna incrostante blu www.intotheblue.it-2023-05-12-15h22m03s828
10
10:43

Blue Sponge

Phorbas tenacior, Blue sponge is one of the first organisms to colonize new wrecks or any submerged vertical surface not yet colonized by marine organisms. In this video we see it on a wreck about 30 meters deep. Probably this wreck is quite recent, perhaps sunk between the first and second world wars, has several colonies of sponges including the blue encrusting sponge, which seems to prefer vertical walls away from direct sunlight. Obviously we also see it next to other species of sponges of the genus Tedania and Verongia but if we look at the part of the prow the presence of Phorbas tenacior ...
Reteporella grimaldii Trina di mare Neptunes’ lace Sertella septentrionalis www.intotheblue.it-2023-02-10-11h12m22s066
18
03:22

Neptunes' lace Reteporella grimaldii

Reteporella grimaldii is a species of bryozoans  in the family Reteporidae.  It is composed of a colony of small animals that form a limestone substrate which takes the form of a refined lace. Hence the name of sea lace. The animals that compose it live on organic particles, plankton, filtering the water carried by the current. The Reteporella can take on different colors based on the species and the environmental conditions in which it lives. We have little information on the environment in which it lives but we can say with certainty, based on our direct experience, that it is possible to meet it from 10 meters up to 100 meters deep. The video we show you was shot in the Mediterranea Sea at 56 meters deep.
Eunicella Cavolinii Gorgonia gialla Yellow gorgonian-2023-04-14-15h42m43s732
10
08:00

Yellow gorgonian - Eunicella Cavolinii

We met Yellow gorgonian, Eunicella Cavolinii (Gorgonia gialla) on a seabed of about 42 meters deep and as we can see from the images these colonies of yellow gorgonian are almost completely covered by marine mucilage. Due to the heating of the waters, the phenomenon of mucilage is now constant and these gorgonians are the first to suffer its effects ...
Astrospartus mediterraneus Paramuricea clavata intotheblue.it-2023-03-26-16h41m14s737
18
18:32

Astrospartus mediterraneus & Paramuricea clavata

In this amazing dive among Paramuricea clavata, red Gorgonian, we met numerous Gorgon starfish, Basket star or Astrospartus mediterraneus. We are on a rocky bottom between 49 and 52 meters deep, where we have encountered various species of fish and marine species such as sponges, red scorpionfish, Anthias anthias, red mullet, coocko wrasse and more. ...
T_Aplysia depilans Sea hare Lepre di mare -2023-03-23-17h06m11s954
15
10:18

Aplysia depilans - Sea hare

We publish another encounter with the Sea hare, Aplysia depilans, this time which took place on a depth of about 42/45 meters. We are on a not very high rock wall about 4/5 miles from the coast where, due to the now increasingly present mucillage, animals and marine organisms seem to have disappeared. ...
mediterranea Savalia savaglia and Paramuricea clavata gold coral and violescent sea-whip www.intotheblue.it-2023-02-14-15h09m24s700
15
08:56

Mediterranean coral reef

The Savalia savaglia, commonly known as gold coral, is a species colonial in the family Parazoanthidae. This organism is commonly called "false black coral". It owes its name to its ability to produce a dark-colored horny skeleton, usually blackish. The colonies are generally settled on pre-existing gorgonians skeletons and can grow with ramifications that far exceed one meter in length. The polyps of this coral have six tentacles which is why the species is part of Hexacorallia group. They are bright yellow or whitish, and very large and showy (2-3 cm high), similar to those of Parazoanthus axinellae. Sprout very well from the tissue that lines the skeleton (coenenchyme) and have available alternates, showing smooth tentacles. The polyps do not fall as those of other species but can retract and close in on themselves.
T_Black squat lobster Galathea squamifera-2023-03-09-21h42m31s673
10
13:57

Galathea - Galathea squamifera

We are in one of the many underwater caves of the Mediterranean Sea where the colors of the red coral, Corallium rubrum and Yellow cluster anemone, Parazoanthus-axinellae, explode in a splendid show that we can only find in caves. However, the caves are also the ideal habitat for many species of crustaceans such as the Galathea, Galathea squamifera, and the cave crab, Herbstia condyliata. ...
Unknown marine organism – Organismo marino sconosciuto – www.intotheblue.it -2023-02-16-17h31m32s980
11
03:47

Unknown marine organism

During a scuba dive in a beautiful Mediterranean coral reef of Savalia savaglia and Paramuricea clavata, at a depth between 72 and 76 meters, I met this unknown marine organism for the first time. Curiosity prompted me to carry out a series of searches to understand precisely what I was dealing with. Research has not yielded a satisfactory answer. The questions I asked myself were many. Based on my experience of many years of scuba diving it could be an animal belonging to the phylum Prorifera.
T_Mediterranean scallop Pecten jacobaeus Capasanta-2023-02-11-17h35m57s675
11
06:07

Pecten jacobaeus - Mediterranean scallop

We all know or have seen at least once the scallop (Mediterranean scallop) Pecten jacobaeus shell, since it is often collected for its beauty or used as a vessel or container. This bivalve mollusc is rather sought after for the goodness of its meat and, as can be seen from the film, not only by man but above all by the Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) of which it is greedy like almost all molluscs. ...
falso corallo false coral Myriapora truncata intotheblue.it-2023-02-08-16h27m34s941
15
04:48

False coral Myriapora truncata

Myriapora truncata, also known by its common name false coral is a species from the genus Myriapora. The species was originally described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1766. Myriapora truncata is a common species on rocky environments from the water surface to a depth of 60 meter, where it forms calcareous colonies. It has a bright red colour which earned it its common name of "False coral". Studies suggest that M. truncata seem well able to withstand the levels of ocean acidification predicted in the next 200 years. Myriapora truncata is the source of 4 polyketide-derived metabolites.
t_Giant triton Charonia tritonis Tritone mediterraneo-2023-01-29-14h23m30s741
19
13:14

Charonia tritonis - Giant triton

We are on some isolated rocks at a depth of 40/46 meters, where we have found two beautiful specimens of Charonia tritonis, Giant mediterranean triton.  This is the mollusk and consequently the largest shell in the Mediterranean Sea. In this dive we met two of them, we filmed the first one casually on the wall we were exploring, we realized watching the footage that we passed by without seeing it. The second was inside a hole from which we moved it to try to film it better. ...
Relitto del Silvio Silvio wreck intotheblue.it-2022-12-30-15h16m52s302
25
16:52

Diving on Silvio's Wreck

Silvio wreck is now reduced to very bad conditions due to the time that has passed but, above all, due to the fishing boats that cause continuous hooks with their trawl nets and then, in an attempt to recover them, cause further damage to the structure of the tug; the wreck is in fact almost completely surrounded by fishing nets. As you can see from the video, the seabed on which it is located is a muddy seabed and a few movements by the diver are enough to lift the mud and make visibility poor; therefore considerable experience is required to avoid accidents and dive in complete safety.
T_European conger Conger conger Grongo-2022-12-02-15h41m28s106
15
04:18

European conger

Conger (European conger - Conger conger) is one of the first marine species of the Mediterranean Sea that colonizes wrecks and we met it right among the plates of one of the many wrecks on which we often dive. It is a nocturnal predator species that lives in caves and ravines during the day and then hunts on the seabed during the night. ...
Murice spinoso – Bolinus brandaris – Spiny dye-murex – Purple dye murex –  Murice comune – Ragusa – Garusolo – Scongillio-2022-11-19-16h06m26s203
15
02:01

Spiny dye-murex

Bolinus brandaris (originally called Murex brandaris by Linnaeus and also Haustellum brandaris), and commonly known as the purple dye murex or the spiny dye-murex, is a species of medium-sized predatory sea snail, an edible marine gastropod mollusk in the Muricidae family, the murex snails or the rock snails. This species is known in the fossil record from the Pilocene (age range: from 3.6 to 2.588 million years ago). Fossil shells of this species have been found in Cyprus, Spain and Italy. It was used by the Phoenicians in ancient times to extract imperial Tyrian purple dye.
T_Peltodoris atromaculata Dotted sea slug-16h10m13s990
14
08:11

Dotted sea slug - Peltodoris atromaculata

In this dive we met one of the many nudibranchs (sea snails) that populate our sea, Peltodoris atromaculata - Dotted sea slug very similar to the Jorunna funebris (Dotted nudibranch), also called Sea cow or Leopard snail. Peltodoris atromaculata Dotted sea slug Vacchetta di mare intotheblue.it ...
Pesce Pagliaccio delle Maldive – Amphiprion nigripes – Maldive Anemonefish – blackfinned Anemonefish – www.intotheblue.it-2020-12-28-14h35m27s190
22
01:05

Maldive Anemonefish

Amphiprion nigripes (Maldive Anemonefish or blackfinned anemonefish), is a marinefish belonging to the family Pomacentridae, which includes clownfishes and damselfishes. The Maldive anemonefish is a small fish which grows up to 11 cm as a female and 8 cm as a male. It is oval-bodied and laterally compressed.
T_Striped red mullet Triglia di scoglio Mullus surmuletus-2022-10-08-20h39m07s239
12
03:42

Striped red mullet - Triglia di scoglio

In this dive we met the Red mullet - Mullus surmuletus - in one of the many typical Mediterranean seabeds. As always, when we dive we try to film and document the marine species that populate our seas but also the conditions in which our sea is found. ...
t_Gorgonia bianca Eunicella singularis White gorgonian-2022-10-06-15h11m42s386
12
06:06

White gorgonian - Eunicella singularis

White gorgonian Eunicella singularis, is a gorgonian typical of the Mediterranean Sea, grows on rocky, muddy and detrital bottoms and often colonizes bottoms that have undergone stress caused by the change in water temperatures or damage caused by trawling, replacing the other species ...
Raccoon Butterflyfish Pesce Farfalla Mascherato Chaetodon lunula crescent-masked butterflyfish lunule butterflyfish halfmoon butterflyfish moon butterflyfish raccoon butterfly raccoon raccoon coralfish redstriped butterflyfish-2021-01-06-12h23m45s138
10
01:00

Raccoon Butterflyfish

The Raccoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula), also known as the crescent-masked butterflyfish, lunule butterflyfish, halfmoon butterflyfish, moon butterflyfish, raccoon butterfly, raccoon, raccoon coralfish, and redstriped butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Pencil urchin Stylocidaris affinis Riccio matita-2022-09-25-14h14m38s244
14
05:10

Pencil urchin - Stylocidaris affinis

Pencil urchin is certainly one of the most curious and most characteristic species of Mediterranean urchins. Its common name derives from the shape of its thorns which resemble a classic pencil or "Lapis" as we say in Tuscany. However, these thorns are quite fragile as they are funny ...