There are fascinating elements of sepulchral life dating back to the Roman era lying below the sea in Grado. These historic wonders can be discovered during a dedicated dive, called the “Pietre di San Gottardo and Sant'Agata Dive,” which includes two areas located 300 meters apart from
each other and 380 meters off the coast of Grado.
The ruins consists of a long bed of stones, about 6 meters wide, presumably a Roman road or pier.
During the dive you may be approached by different kinds of fish, including gilt-head bream (S. auratus), common two-banded sea bream (Diplodus vulgaris), salema porgy (Sarpa salpa), saddled seabream (Oblata melanura), sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa ) and many others. You can also find small stretches of Posidonia oceanica, the most widespread aquatic plant in the Mediterranean Sea (more commonly known as “sea grass”).
DID YOU KNOW THAT ... “phanerogams” are good for the sea all year round?
Posidonia oceanica is a phanerogam that is recognized by its scaly rhizomes and very long leaves.
It forms large underwater meadows that can cover several square kilometres along the coastlines of Mediterranean beaches.
These meadows are considered sites with a high biomass concentration and high productivity ecosystems, and they also play an important role in the oxygenation of water (according to the estimates of experts, one square metre of meadow can produce 14 litres of oxygen per day).
The meadow is also a food source for various organisms and represents a shelter area and a breeding ground for many economically important species such as fish, cephalopods and crustaceans.
Once washed up on the shore, where it is carried by the waves, the sea grass is a very important source of organic carbon and nutrients. But the most important role played by phanerogams washed up on shore is to maintain and consolidate sandy shores, limiting the erosion processes, especially in winter when storms are more frequent.
For diving contact:
Ufficio Protezione Civile del Comune di Grado
Riva Grandi Navigatori n 1
34073 Grado (GO)
Tel.: 800855255
giuliano.felluga@comunegrado.it
Ask for Giuliano by Wednesday for outings on Saturday and Sunday