TRANSPARENT KAYAK TOURS ALONG THE AMALFI COAST
SEA LIFE
This area has been awarded the BLUE FLAG 9 years running. It's an award given to the clearest and cleanest water of Italy. This extremity of the Amalfi Coast is protected, being part of the Natural Marine Reserve "Punta Campanella", and in many areas fishing and motorboats are forbidden. This has improved sea life enormously and many fish that had disappeared are returning!
During our tours you may see some of the following:
Name:
Peregrine Falcon
Scientific Name:
Falco peregrinus Tunstall
Description:
This bird is a predator and territorial. Known for its high speed, it can apparently reach 182 m/h when swooping during hunting, thus being the fastest animal in the world. You don't see many around because they have problems with seagulls, that attack them in groups, pushing them into the sea.
Chances of seeing:
Rare
Name:
Dolphin
Scientific Name:
Delphinus Delphis Mediterranea
Description:
They are back! Although they prefer to stay away from the crowded coast , they sometimes come quite close. They move in schools and you can see their fins cutting the sea. They are curious animals and, who knows, maybe they will be interested in our new transparent kayaks!
Chances of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Manta Ray
Scientific Name:
Manta Birostris
Description:
One of the most elegant animals you can observe in the sea. It moves gently with the current and is spectacular when it jumps out of the water!
Chances of seing:
Very rare
Name:
Barrel jellyfish
Scientific Name:
Rhizostoma Pulmo
Description:
This is the biggest jellyfish you can see in our waters. It prefers deep water and is a slow animal pushed by the current. Its movements are very elegant.
Chances of seeing:
Rare
Name:
Mediterranean Moray
Scientific Name:
Muraena Helena
Description:
This is one of the ugliest fish you can see. It lives in coves on the coast. It's like a snake and is scary when it stares at you... not very friendly.
Chance of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Purple-striped jellyfish
Scientific Name:
Pelagia Nocticula
Description:
These are the most annoying jelly fish we have which move in schools driven by the current. Their tentacles can be 1 meter long and if they touch you it can be very painful. The good thing about these jelly fish is that they provide food for the dolphins.
Chances of seeing:
Common (unfortunately)
Name:
Cormoran
Scientific Name:
Phalacrocorax Carbo
Description:
This big bird is getting more common every year. It has a long neck and loves to fly skimming the surface of the water in search of prey.
Chances of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Grey mullet
Scientific Name:
Mugil Cephalus
Description:
These are common in this area. You can find them in schools especially when they are young. They prefer shallow water.
Chances of seeing:
Common
Name:
Mediterranean Spearfish (Marlin)
Scientific Name:
Tetrapturus Belone
Description:
This big fish is not very typical of this area but lately it has been making an appearance. It likes deep water and, when seen from above, has an amazing electric blue color.
Chances of seeing:
Very rare
Name:
Fried Egg jellyfish
Scientific Name:
Cotylorhiza Tubercolata
Description:
This jellyfish is also known by locals as "cappiell' e prete" (Priest's hat). Its umbrella can reach the size of 30 cm. It has no tentacles and you can find it in deep sea driven by the current.
Chances of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Sperm Whale
Scientific Name:
Physeter Macrocephalus
Description:
These incredible animals tend to pass through this area during springtime. They can be huge, even 45 feet! An amazing sight is when they come up to the surface and spurt water out. They are beautiful cetaceans and you feel so little when they bang their tails on the sea.
Chances of seeing:
Very rare
Name:
Dreamfish
Scientific Name:
Sarpa Salpa
Description:
This little fish prefers shallow sea and lately is not very scared of humans. You can distinguish it by the golden stripes along its body.
Chances of seeing:
Common
Name:
Bluefin Tuna
Scientific Name:
Thunnus Thynnus
Description:
Of the many species of tuna we have round here this is definitely the most interesting. There are many at the end of August and September. When they arrive here they are young and so usually between 5 and 6 kg, but they can become huge!
Chances of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Red scorpionfish
Scientific Name:
Scorpaena Scrofa
Description:
This ugly fish lives on the bottom in deep sea, its quills are poisonous so you don't want to step on it.
Chances of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Squid
Scientific Name:
Loligo Vulgaris
Description:
This is a very common mollusk. It moves in deep water and is similar to an octopus but its hat has got little wings and its tentacles are shorter. It sprays ink when in danger.
Chance of seeing:
Rare
Name:
Pompano (Jack family)
Scientific Name:
Trachinotus Ovatus
Description:
This is another little fish quite common to this area. It can be distinguished by its big tail similar to that of the swallow.
Chances of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Sunfish
Scientific Name:
Mola Mola
Description:
This is a very particular fish. It can become quite big. When it sleeps it comes to the surface and its fin comes out of the sea scaring people who confuse it with a shark.
Chances of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Sea Turtle
Scientific Name:
Caretta Caretta
Description:
Every year many turtles are found injured and volunteers heal them. In the springtime they free them in the Bay of Jeranto or in Marina del Cantone. They can be very big and are very graceful when they swim despite their odd shape.
Chances of seeing:
Rare
Name:
Flying Fish
Scientific Name:
Exocoetus Volitans
Description:
This fish has got very long side fins which it uses when in danger. It can fly out of the sea for up to 150 feet.
Chances of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Seagull
Scientific Name:
Larinae
Description:
This big bird is very commonl and you can see many of them. When they are young they have grey feathers which turn white when they are older,
Chances of seeing:
Very common
Name:
Cuttlefish
Scientific Name:
Sepiidae
Description:
This animal is a mixture of an octopus and a squid. It is very good at camouflage and when in danger sprays ink out.
Chances of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Gilt-head Sea Bream
Scientific Name:
Sparus Aurata
Description:
This fish prefers deep water and lives by itself or in little schools. It can grow to 5 or6 kg.
Chance of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Starfish
Scientific Name:
Asteroidea
Description:
This fish lives on the bottom of the sea. It's a slow animal and its favourite food is sea urchins.
Chance of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Monkfish
Scientific Name:
Lophius Budegassa
Description:
It's a giant monster,scary but completely harmless. I haven't seen any of them around for a long, long time.
Chance of seeing:
Very rare
Name:
Sea Urchin
Scientific Name:
Echinoidea
Description:
This fish was very common in our sea, then somebody realized how good they were to eat and now you don't see them very often. Its body is covered in quills and it can be very painful if you step on it.
Chance of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Sea Bass
Scientific Name:
Dicentrarchus Labrax
Description:
This fish is medium size, silver coloured and it likes water that is not very clean.
Chance of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Swordfish
Scientific Name:
Xiphias Gladius
Description:
In general this big fish prefers very deep water and stays away from the coast, but sometimes you can see one jumping out of the sea with its sword in the air.
Chance of seeing:
Rare
Name:
Octopus
Scientific Name:
Octopus Vulgaris
Description:
This animal is the king of camouflage. It stays near the rocks taking their color and is very hard to spot. When in danger it sprays black ink.
k out.
Chance of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Saddled Seabream
Scientific Name:
Oblada Melanura
Description:
This silver fish is everywhere along the coast. It prefers shallow water and lives in schools. You can distinguish it by a black stripe near the tail.
Chance of seeing:
Very Common
Name:
Seahorse
Scientific Name:
Ippocampus
Description:
This lovely little animal lives on the bottom of the sea. It's very hard to see also because it prefers to stay away from the crowds.
Chance of seeing:
Rare
Name:
Damselfish
Scientific Name:
Chromis Chromis
Description:
It's a little black fish and you can find it everywhere. It lives in schools in not very deep sea.
Chance of seeing:
Very Common
Name:
Dolphinfish
Scientific Name:
Coryphaena Hippurus
Description:
Despite the name it has nothing in common with dolphins. Its face is squashed-looking and it's not very attractive. Its body has a very beautiful gold and electric blue color. You can see it especially at the end of summer
Chance of seeing:
Medium
Name:
Mermaid
Scientific Name:
???
Description:
These beautiful creatures used to live here, their home was Li Galli Island. Here we had three sisters: Partenope, Ligea and Leucosia who with their enchanting songs used to seduce sailors and kill them. When they couldn't stop Ulysses they died and Partenope's body was found in Naples where nowadays the Castel dell' Ovo stands. Since then nobody has ever seen them anymore but never say never...
Chance of seeing:
???