Italian Gardens

Italian Gardens lies on the sheltered front side of the island, where a rocky shore with boulders gives way to sand that slopes gradually deeper. Its fame comes from the comeback of the giant black sea bass, which aggregate here from late spring into autumn, sometimes ten or more at once, mostly around the kelp edge at 12 to 21 m. The kelp also holds sheephead, kelp bass and leopard sharks, while angel sharks, halibut and bat rays rest on the sand. Lobsters, morays and octopus hide among the rocks. One charter operator usually plans two dives here so divers get time with the sea bass.