Scoglietto di Portoferraio

Scoglietto di Portoferraio is a small protected biological zone off Portoferraio on the Island of Elba, established in 1971, whose perimeter runs from Punta Falcone past the Scoglietto rock to Punta Capo Bianco. Originally created to study and promote fish repopulation in the surrounding waters and to serve as a pilot project for future marine reserves in Italy, it has since become one of the most species-rich dive sites in the Mediterranean.

The terrain is a landslide (franata) on the eastern side of the Scoglietto, where a rubble slope drops from 7–8 metres down to a maximum of 25 metres. The site is rated medium difficulty.

Current is almost always absent, making conditions predictable and comfortable. The protected status of the zone, combined with active oversight by maritime authorities and local dive clubs, has allowed Mediterranean flora and fauna to establish in exceptional density. Species seen here include grouper (cernie), gurnard (capponi), rockling (mustelle), conger eel (gronghi), moray eel (murene), meagre (corvine), white seabream (saraghi), grey mullet (cefali), salema (salpe), annular seabream (occhiate), pelagic fish (pesce azzurro), damselfish (castagnole), bogue (boghe), dentex (dentici), and amberjack (ricciole).