Looking for the Mediterranean wrecks to explore absolutely? Discover our selection of the most beautiful diving sites on the French Riviera!
No one needs to go to the end of the world to live exceptional dives. Rich in marine species, the Mediterranean will seduce you by the profusion and colours of its fauna and flora. Posidonie herbaria, typical of the region, form an ideal habitat for shellfish and shellfish. Impressive gorgones develop, giving underwater funds multicolored gardens. De Marseille and its calanques to the Italian border, the dives on the Côte d’Azur fascinate by their diversity. There are various sites including caves, rocky plateaus or dizzying drips. Dozens of wrecks are also available to experienced divers as well as beginners. To help you make your choice, discover some of the most beautiful diving spots on the French Riviera.
1. The Riou Archipelago
Photo credit: Facebook – Marseille Diving Training – Phocean Diving
- 📍 Place of departure: Marseille, Cassis
- 🌡 in the water temperature: 14-26°
- ← Level , all levels
- 🐚 Faune and flora : gorgones, sars, dorades, merous
A member of the Calanques National Park, the Riou Archipelago consists of a dozen islands. These include some of the best dive sites in the French Riviera. Among the best known, falling from the Moyades , west of Riou Island, descends up to 45 meters deep. Thanks to its configuration in different trays, the site addresses all levels of divers. The biodiversity of the place is breathtaking! You will discover beautiful corals, gorgones, but also merous, sars, morays or lobsters.
Maire Island is surrounded by diving spots: Tiboulen and Cap de Maïre, La Grotte à Corail, la Baignoire... At its southern tip, Les Pharillons is one of the most spectacular dives on the French Riviera. A 25-metre plateau and a 45-metre drop are home to sars and dorades. You will attend a real water ballet in the heart of the three arches covered with red gorgones. The nail of the show? The wreck of Lebanon, no doubt! This 91-metre long boat, which fell in 1903, is accessible between 32 and 36 metres in depth.
Other immanquable, The Great Congloue , which was the theatre of archaeological excavations conducted by the team of Commander Cousteau in 1952. This mythical site is home to hundreds of amphors and pieces of dishes. Rested at 14 meters deep, some remains have become a habitat for local wildlife and form a fun site for divers of all levels.
2. The Friuli Archipelago
Photo credit: Facebook – Frioul Dive
- 📍 Place of departure: Marseille
- 🌡 in the water temperature: 14-26°
- ← Level , all levels
- 🐚 Faune and flora : gorgones, anemones, corbs, octopuses, dentis, hippocampes, fish-lunes
This archipelago is also located in the Parc National des Calanques, but off Marseille. Des Marine shuttles allow you to ship it in just 30 minutes of navigation. Offering different depths, this dive spot in French Riviera is suitable for all diver profiles. Those who try a baptism in La calanque des Cambrettes Maybe they'll have a chance to see hippocampes!
Not far, Cape Caveau gives the opportunity to debust the shy octopus that hide in the anfractuosities of the tomb. Pierre Fendue needs to be accompanied by a guide, because the site is not always easy to find. The reward if you get there? A life-threatening with merous, corbs, sars, tooth... In the good season, you may have the chance to cross the route of the fish-lunes, which carry their name so well.
Adapted to all levels, Tiboulen du Frioul consists of rocky plateaus at 15-25 meters and a 40 meters drop. Beautiful gorgones await you, as well as rascasses, and sometimes a merou. Not far from there, Level 3 divers will be able to descend to -53 meters to explore the Junker 88 wreck. This German bomber was damaged at sea in 1943. A rare opportunity to dive on a plane!
3. Island of the Planier
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Leonid Andronov
- 📍 Place of departure: Marseille, Cassis
- 🌡 in the water temperature: 14-26°
- ← Level , all levels
- 🐚 Faune and flora : sponges, gorgones, chapons, merous, murene
The farthest from the islands of Marseille is also one of the best diving spots in the French Riviera. Surrounded by reefs that swell, Island of the Planier has been the theatre of many shipwrecks. You can go out in the day to discover three mythical wrecks of the Mediterranean.
Ancient cargo of 90 meters long, Le Chaouen transported a shipment of oranges from Morocco. It sunk in 1970 and lies between 14 and 33 metres in depth, making it accessible to Level 1 divers. The wreck rests on the side, and you can admire its beautiful anchors and its mast. It is possible to penetrate the parts most exposed to light.
Possed between 15 and 33 meters deep, The Dalton 70 meters long. Founded in 1928, it is now covered with sponges and gorgones. You will begin diving by the bow, rather in bad condition, then continue along the boat to the well-preserved stern. The highlight of this dive? The discovery of the propeller and the rudder! They host many species of fish such as sars, chapons or merous.
The more seasoned divers can access the wreck of the Messerschmitt a plane shot down near the Planier in 1944. By -45 meters, it sits flat on a sandy background and serves as refuges to murenas. Due to its depth, you must be at least a Level 3 holder to explore it.
4. Port-Cros National Park
Photo credit: Facebook – Port-Cros and Porquerolles National Park (official page)
- 📍 Place of departure: Hyères, La-Londe-les-Maures, Bormes-les-Mimosas, Le Lavandou
- 🌡 in the water temperature: 13-25°
- ← Level , all levels
- 🐚 Faune and flora : posidonia herbaria, merous, barracudas, rascasses, bench of anhias and castagnoles, congres
Off Hyères, Port-Cros National Park offers some of the best dives on the French Riviera. It is the oldest Marine park in Europe, and it houses 180 species of fish. Discover the points of the Galery, the Vaisseau and the Cross . You will evolve in fields of posidonia where giant mothers develop. The white and red gorgones contrast with the green algae and offer a color explosion behind the mask.
Huge congres are hidden in the fissures of the Tantinian wreck. On the rocky spike of the point of Montmérian , you will observe murenes, octopuses and many rascasses.
The d’la Gabinière is one of the dives on the Côte d’Azur where you can meet “big”. You will encounter some curious cribs approaching divers, and barracuda benches flying in cyclones in blue.
Between Port-Cros and Porquerolles
Between Port-Cros and Porquerolles , you have an appointment with one of the most beautiful diving wrecks on the French Riviera: the Donator . A length of 78 meters, the cargo ship sits flat on a sandy bottom, with the bow at 51 meters deep. To take full advantage of your immersion and explore it in the best conditions, it is therefore advisable to be certified diver level 3. Level 2 will only fly over the vessel, whose bridge is at -40 metres away.
Among the highlights of the dive: the kitchen where two divers can stand to admire the furnaces. Look for the rear hold to contemplate the engine part or try to find the bathtub! A real reef developed on all parts of the boat, and the fish live there by thousands. Immense benches of annihias, castagnoles and sars veer in the blue, sometimes followed by royal dorades.
5. Saint-Tropez and its surroundings
Photo credit: Shutterstock – zaferkizilkaya
- 📍 Place of departure: Saint-Tropez, Sainte-Maxime, Ramatuelle
- 🌡 in the water temperature: 14-25°
- ← Level , all levels
- 🐚 Faune and flora : anemones, gorgones, soft corals, castagnoles, girelles, nudibranches
The Gulf of Saint-Tropez and its surroundings are paradise for diving on the French Riviera. The highlight of this spot is the wreck of Rubis , taken from divers from all over the world. Indeed, it remains extremely rare to be able to dive on a submarine!
At the departure of Saint-Tropez, Sainte-Maxime or Cavalaire, it is 41 meters deep. Visibility is often very good, giving you an overview of the submarine. Have fun finding the periscopes, the rudder and the spear tubes. This dive will certainly remain in your memory for its beauty and originality. On the other side of the cap Camarat and resting at 59 meters, the freighter Togo is very well preserved. Level 3 divers will be able to combine these two dives on the French Riviera during the same day.
Ultimate diving spot on the French Riviera, accessible at all levels, dry oil . The grave descends to 45 metres, and it is possible to explore two caves. You'll float in a plumber among the castagnola, girella and other merous that pullulate in these waters. The most trained will debuste all kinds of multicolored nudibranches, such as purple flabelline.
So, what is your dive on the favorite French Riviera?
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