La Secca del Trave
Site Overview
La Secca del Trave is a rocky reef near Ancona, just off the Conero Riviera, famous for its lobsters and as one of the best night dives on the Adriatic coast. Nudibranchs, bream and morays share the rock, and the sheltered position makes it a reliable dive. It is a favourite for macro photographers and for night diving, when the crustaceans emerge and the small life is most vivid. The gentle setting is ideal for building Mediterranean skills close to Ancona. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Italy’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Mediterranean divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Italy’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Mediterranean divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Italy’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Mediterranean divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Italy’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Mediterranean divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Italy’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Mediterranean divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Italy’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Mediterranean divers. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Italy’s marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Mediterranean divers.
Dive Briefing
"Brief on the reef profile and the mild current, then descend along the rock face searching the cracks for lobsters. Use a torch for the night life, control buoyancy to avoid the bottom, ascend with a safety stop, and keep an eye on boat traffic near the coast. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point."
Signature Marine Life
Spiny Lobster
Palinurus elephas
Best: Year-round
Nudibranch
Chromodorididae
Best: Year-round
Two-banded Sea Bream
Diplodus vulgaris
Best: Year-round
Mediterranean Moray
Muraena helena
Best: Year-round
Sea Squirt
Ciona intestinalis
Best: Year-round
Safety & Hazards
- Boat traffic
- Mild current
- Cold thermocline
- Limited visibility after rain
- Slippery entry
- Fragile reef
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
Good for intermediate divers and macro photographers who want a protected, lobster-rich reef close to Ancona. Confident open-water divers can enjoy the shallow top with a guide, especially at night. It suits confident Mediterranean divers who value dramatic scenery, wrecks and rich marine life over tropical abundance. It suits confident Mediterranean divers who value dramatic scenery, wrecks and rich marine life over tropical abundance. It suits confident Mediterranean divers who value dramatic scenery, wrecks and rich marine life over tropical abundance. It suits confident Mediterranean divers who value dramatic scenery, wrecks and rich marine life over tropical abundance.
Quick Stats
Dive Logistics
- Conero Diving
- Trave Sub
Photography Info
Best for: macro, wide_angle
Nearby Stay
Grand Hotel Passetto
Ancona • 4km away
Hotel Conero
Numana • 2km away