Spiaggia Pineta del Gelsomineto_ Crystal waters beach

Where: Spiaggia Pineta del Gelsomineto/ Sicily/ Italy

When: June/2016

Water temperature: cold

Visibility: aprox. 10 meters

Approximate depht: 1-2 meters

Main attractions: Beautiful sand beach

Duration: approximately 1 hour

Gelsomineto Beach, or Sppiagia Pineta del Gelsomineto, is a sand beach situated in the Oriented Nature Reserve Cavagrande del Cassibile. Cassibile is the clear water river that debouch on the beach to the Ionian Sea.

Its name was once “Marchesa di Cassibile”, because the marchioness of Cassibile region used to bathe on its waters.

It is situated south from Siracusa, and we went there by rented car as a half day trip. You wont find it hard to reach, just pay attention to the entrance, since it is not that well signed.

We entered the right corner of the beach, swimming near the shore. We wore shorty wetsuits and did not feel uncomfortable with the temperature. There were no currents and you can walk/swim long distances with still shallow waters.

Now lets go to the marine life!

Ornate Wrasse _ Thalassoma pavo

I saw several of these very common wrasse, I just did not take many pictures, because I already got used to it. Just look at the vegetation on the rocks and you’ll probably find it.

Comber _ Serranus cabrilla

This fish inhabits sandy and rocky bottoms. Interesting, but less flashy than his cousin, the painted comber.

Painted Comber _ Serranus scriba

A fish with a beautiful pattern of colors. Found hidden among the rocks.

Striped Red Mullet _ Mullus surmuletus

This fish has a light gray / red body, with a black horizontal line from head to tail. The tail is yellow. They feed on the ocean floor, so it’s where you’ll probably find it.

Horn Snail _ Cerithiidae family

These snail are found on sand bottoms, reef flats or rocks. They are herbivorous and detritivores.

The shell is elongated, this one has some nodules in an axial pattern. Very interesting finding for the ones that like little creatures.

Black Sea Urchin _ Arbacia lixula

This species is known for its very black color, with all the spines with the same sizes. It can be seen on water or in intertidal zones.

Not too dangerous, but not inviting.

Sally Lightfoot Crab _ Percnon gibbesi

I found these crabs at a shallow rock bottom after crossing a passage between limestone rocks.

The Sally Lightfoot Crab is found both on Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and seems that it appeared at the Mediterranean Sea around 1999. But since it is herbivorous, it does not compete for the same food as the other Mediterranean crabs. It uses his claws to pick algae.

It has a disc carapace, with a brownish color. The legs are thin, full of little spines, with red and golden stripes on it. Looks like a spider.

It is very agile and quickly hides behind rocks when we come closer, very fun looking for them.