Banco di Santa Croce

別名： Banco Santa Croce · Santa Croce Bank · Banco di Santacroce · Secca del Bikini

The bank became a protected biological zone in 1993 and consists of five large rock pinnacles near the mouth of the Sarno river. The river's nutrients and the murky surface layer create a dim setting where red and yellow gorgonians and Axinella sponges start at about 18 m, often hung with catshark eggs. Below 30 m, large branches of false black coral appear, and a vertical crack splits the main pinnacle where light filters through the gorgonians. Groups of groupers, dentex, eagle rays and, in season, amberjack, bonito and tuna hunting anchovies are regular sights.