Paguro

Paguro is a beginner-friendly dive site off the coast of Ravenna in the Adriatic Sea, centered on the remains of the Paguro oil platform that collapsed in 1965 following a gas blowout. The structure has since been colonized by marine organisms, creating one of the most important artificial reefs in the northern Adriatic. The platform's twisted metal provides substrate for dense growths of mussels, sponges, and algae that attract an extraordinary concentration of marine life for the region. Large conger eels, lobsters, and schools of sea bream have made the wreck their home, while the surrounding sandy seabed contrasts sharply with the rich biological community on the structure. The site was declared a marine protected area in 1995, recognizing its ecological significance. Paguro demonstrates how industrial accidents can ultimately benefit marine ecosystems, creating a thriving underwater oasis that has become one of Emilia-Romagna's most celebrated dive sites.