On 29th September of 1965, at 14 miles from the coast of Ravenna, the AGIP platform “Paguro”, used for drilling of methane, caught fire and sank breaking in three stumps, that settled down in the seabed at a depth of 35 metres.

After about 40 years, the wreck, taken peacefully by the sea, was transformed into a kind of artificial reef giving life to a very particular natural habitat, where there are: white sea breams (Diplodus sargus), little tunnies (Sarda sarda), great shoals of orange anthias (a very coloured tropical fish), lobsters and oysters.

This wreck gave rise to a unique ecosystem, protected nowadays by Ministry for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Resources, which, on 21st July of 1995, instituted an “area of biological protection” enabling this underwater aquarium to exist and to evolve.

This area became an exceptional place for dives because of the chance to look closely at unusual Mediterranean fishes, that gave life to a unique seabed in our sea.

At the end of this story, begun in a dramatic way but with an happy end, there is still a consideration about the extraordinary ability of nature to recycle the troubles caused by man, who very often invades places, that deserve a different treatment and a greater attention.

Ah, we’re forgetting…if you are going to visit the seabed, you should remember to feed the coloured conger, that lives in a pipe of the wreck and that enjoys visits only if some tasty “snack” is added to them.

Have a good dive!

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