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A UNESCO-listed volcanic archipelago north of Sicily where divers explore lava and pumice walls, gorgonian-covered drop-offs, wrecks and underwater fumaroles around seven islands with two active volcanoes.
The Aeolian Islands are a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily. The seven main islands are Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi and Panarea, and two volcanoes, Stromboli and Vulcano, are active. UNESCO inscribed the islands as a World Heritage Site in 2000 for their record of volcanic island-building. Underwater the volcanic origin shapes the diving: contrasts of white pumice and black lava rock, steep walls with red and yellow gorgonians, caves and shoals with groupers and lobsters. Off Panarea, gas escapes from underwater fumaroles, and near Stromboli's Sciara del Fuoco black volcanic rock is covered with sponges. Wrecks include the motor ship Cariddi near Lipari. Dive centres operate on Lipari, Panarea and other islands. Source: Wikipedia, Lipari Diving, Visit Sicily, GoInItaly