The 68-year-old professional diver completed an entire day diving with simple recreational equipment in the waters adjacent to the Bergeggi Island Marine Protected Area. A sporting, scientific and tourist success.
He resurfaced promptly at 16pm on Sunday, after 24 hours under water, during which he also ate, like a good Ligurian, trofie with pesto and did the crosswords. In front of Bagni Sirio in Spotorno, crowded with thousands of people, including swimmers, enthusiasts and onlookers, a moving applause accompanied the return to the mainland of the 68-year-old from Savona Paolo Cappucciati, protagonist of an undertaking sealed by the kiss to his wife Carola.
The professional diver, competitive freediving underwater fisherman and former coach of the Italian national team FIPSAS, did it, repeating his own international record achieved in 2013, thanks to the use of simple recreational equipment, and demonstrating once again his extraordinary resistance and the profound love for the sea, in the name of its protection. It was a sporting, scientific and tourist success, which confirms the value of Gulf of the Island, the destination including the Municipalities of Bergeggi, Spotorno, Noli and Vezzi Portio, and ofBergeggi Island Marine Protected Area, as a treasure chest of beauty and biodiversity.
"The 24 hours in the water were an incredible experience, full of emotions and challenges. The biggest critical issue was the water temperature, below seasonal averages, which dropped to around 22 degrees during the night, the limit temperature for such a long stay. But willpower and passion for the sea helped me overcome every obstacle. Boredom? Never. I had a wonderful team at my side, I did crosswords, I made friends with a sea bream, who was with me almost the whole time, and at the end of the undertaking she continued to circle around me as if to say hello. The weather was good, the sea perfect, and the standing ovation from the crowd at the exit is a moment I will carry with me for a long time", tells Paolo Cappucciati, once on shore, with a satisfied smile.
Cappucciati spent 24 hours underwater in SCUBA (acronym for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, or "autonomous underwater breathing apparatus"), taking advantage of the support of a dome, positioned at 6 meters of depth and about 50 meters from the shore, provided from the Genoese company Ocean reef, similar to those that form the Nemo's Garden in Noli, the underwater garden where hydroponic agriculture is experimented and where the basil used for the trofie with pesto was grown.
Inside the dome with a 2m circumference, assisted by researchers expert in hyperbaric underwater medicine, Cappucciati was able to undergo medical tests on the cardiorespiratory system, on oxidative stress and on the decline of cognitive functions over time and hours, documentation that will contribute to the scientific project Fourth Half Savona with the contribution of the San Paolo Foundation, as well as feeding and communicating, every two hours, with its staff through the use of a mobile phone. On Saturday evening the Savona area also held a live video call with the citizens, gathered in Piazza della Vittoria in Spotorno, conducted by biologists and scientists, who carried out environmental education activities in parallel.
"The Gulf of the Island dressed up for this event, which contributed to enhancing the beauty of our territory and the richness of the Bergeggi Island Marine Protected Area - declares Mattia Fiorini, mayor of Spotorno and president of the Gulf of the Island – I had the pleasure of diving for an hour with Paolo, an unforgettable experience during which I also had the opportunity to feed a sea bream that Cappucciati had somehow 'tamed' during the night. The participation of the public was extraordinary, both on the beach and at the Casa del Turismo in Spotorno, where the images of the undertaking were broadcast live, for an event which had the great merit of bringing people closer to the sea and which will bring benefits in the coming months, both scientifically and at the level of tourism promotion. My hope is that more and more people can come to this area to snorkel and dive, to discover our wonders, 75% of which are found below the surface of the water".
An exceptional biodiversity that was confirmed during these 24 hours, for what in jargon is called bioblitz, in which, in addition to Cappucciati, the approximately 70 members of the organization participated, including his wife Carola and his son Cosimo, together with hundreds of people, between land and sea.
"Through the iNaturalist research app, we have collected hundreds and hundreds of photos, videos and annotations, which in the coming days will be verified by a team of biologists and naturalists, to become research material - he says Alex Chiabra, co-organizer of the event – It is still difficult to quantify the numbers, but the previous biodiversity record of 114 wildlife species detected in 2023 in the Gulf of the Island on the occasion of the Italian Safari Fotosub Championship will certainly be beaten." Extraordinary sightings even outside the sea, like that of a Honey buzzard, a rather rare bird of prey. “An even more relevant sighting given its young age, which means that it has nested in the area. But it certainly won't be the only notable sighting".
The event was made possible thanks to: Municipality of Spotorno, Municipality of Bergeggi, Marine Protected Area of Bergeggi Island, Port Authority / Coast Guard of Savona, APS Centro Nautico Vadese, Il Golfo dell'Isola, Anton Dohrn Genoa Zoological Station , Bagni Marini Spotorno Association, Spotorno Hoteliers Association, Bergeggi Pro Loco, National Rescue Society, White Cross of Spotorno, Quarto Tempo Savona Project with the contribution of the San Paolo Foundation, Menkab Association, Bagni Sirio, Mares, Balbi Nautica, Vico Group , Ocean Reef, Nemo's Garden, Gulf Guides, Hotel Miramare, Latiaxis, Salto nel Blu Association.
