Ancona, August 9, 2026 – There is much of the professionalism and skill of the Ancona champion of freediving fishing Giacomo De Mola of Komaros Sub Ancona behind the sensational archaeological discovery off the coast of Mazara del Vallo. Together with his colleague and assistant Igor Bisulli, in fact, they recently identified in the Sicilian waters a wreck of exceptional archaeological interest, preserved on the seabed for over 2,000 years. The announcement, besides a video published on social media by De Mola himself, came directly from the Ministry of Culture in a press release issued yesterday: “A Roman-era wreck, presumably dating between the 2nd and 1st century BC, was identified about three miles from the coast of Mazara del Vallo, at a depth of 46 meters. On the seabed there are hundreds of amphorae, mostly of the Dressel 1A type, two lead anchor stocks, and another structure of the same material,” they wrote in the communication from Rome.
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The discovery took place during seabed research activities
The discovery took place during seabed research activities where the Italian absolute freediving fishing Championship was held. Promptly, therefore, De Mola and his assistant proceeded to report the site to the Sea Superintendency of the Sicilian Region and at the same time, the news was shared with Fabio Portella, underwater archaeologist and Fipsas federal instructor, who subsequently coordinated the documentation activities of the wreck lying at about 45 meters depth.
At that point, as learned from the Ministry, following the report by private citizens, a prompt joint inspection was carried out by the Carabinieri Unit for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Palermo, the Sea Superintendency of the Sicilian Region, and the Carabinieri Underwater Unit of Messina, with the support of the Carabinieri Patrol Boat of Trapani.
The confirmation of the epochal discovery
And here is the confirmation of the epochal discovery. “One of the most important underwater archaeological discoveries of recent years – to quote the words of the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli -. I congratulate the Carabinieri Corps, with its specialized units, and the Sea Superintendency of the Sicilian Region for the expertise and dedication that made this result possible. The sea continues to return precious fragments of our history and the Mazara del Vallo wreck tells us about the men, the routes, and the exchanges that made the Mediterranean a crossroads of civilizations. Research will continue to unveil its history and deliver it to the community.”
The site will be subject to further activities
Now the site will be subject to further documentation and in-depth activities by the Sea Superintendency, aimed at reconstructing the archaeological context and adopting the necessary protection measures. De Mola, on social media, is full of joy: “Exceptional find – he explains enthusiastically – This is, without a doubt, the most incredible discovery of my life,” speaking of the unforgettable survey day experienced with Igor Bisulli. There would not have been much visibility, De Mola thought it was a group of rocks and instead: “I get closer. And my heart stops. It was not a rock. Beneath me was an immense expanse of amphorae. Hundreds of amphorae remained on the seabed for over 2,000 years. A Roman ship asleep in the silence of the Mediterranean. When I resurface I say to Igor: ‘You can’t imagine what’s down here…’. It’s hard to explain what you feel thinking you are among the first human beings, after almost twenty centuries, to see that place again.” The rest is history, resurfacing from the depths. “The sea never ceases to surprise us. This time we didn’t just find a wreck. We found a piece of our history,” concludes De Mola.
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