The reopening of the dive site in the post-Covid era revealed a drastically changed scenario. Over my three dives after the pandemic, the “wall” of hammerheads disappeared. The outcome of my dives was disheartening: in three different holidays, the maximum number of individuals sighted at the same time was two. Often, there was nothing at all.
Initially, I hypothesized environmental causes. I analyzed the historical data from my logbook on water temperatures, comparing them with current figures: no significant anomalies. This year I even dove in November, with lower temperatures and conditions theoretically ideal for pelagics. The result was the worst: zero sightings, not even one.
Excluding natural causes, I delved deeper into the matter with local guides and instructors. The information collected depicts a worrying reality. During the lockdown, the total absence of cruise boats deprived the Marine Park of any surveillance. Multiple sources confirm that, during that silence, industrial fishing vessels (probably of Yemeni origin) operated undisturbed in the waters of Daedalus Reef.
Supporting this hypothesis are the findings of some guides: upon the site’s reopening, large fishing nets were found on the seabed at Punta Nord.