The French Riviera is a great place to go diving.
Between Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap-Ferrat, passing through Port-Cros, you can admire the animals, vegetation and historical artifacts that populate the seabed.
The French Riviera is a great place to go diving. Here you can admire the marine world, discovering the animals, vegetation and historical relics that inhabit it. Here is a list of the most beautiful diving spots on the French Riviera, where you can have incredible experiences.
VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER
Opposite Villefranche-sur-Mer is the wreckage of a Morane-Saulnier Rallye type plane. It is a very small touring plane that was pulling advertising weathervanes in 1983, when it had to attempt a makeshift ditching on the body of water following an engine failure on July 20.
What remains today of the plane wreckage are a few pieces: the almost intact fuselage with one wing and the engine block with the other wing displaced from the first rest on a bottom of desert and granular sand between 47 and 50 meters deep.
The dive is the preserve only of those who know its exact location and are well trained physically, since it lies in the center of the roadstead, offset from the Punta Pilone wall by about 150 meters.
L’ILE D’OR
Near Saint-Raphaël in the Var region is Ile d’Or. It is a place within everyone’s reach, where animals such as barracuda, moray eels, groupers, sea urchins, octopus and lobsters can be found. One can easily dive to a depth of 30 meters.
ISLANDS OF PORT-CROS AND PORQUEROLLES
Not far from Hyères, between the islands of Port-Cros and Porquerolles, is the wreck of the Sagona, a merchant ship that sank in 1945. The wreck is more than 50 meters high and lies at a depth of 40 meters. Excellent diving experience is absolutely necessary.
Also in Port-Cros, there is a place visited by many divers, namely the northern part of Palud Bay, where you can go down to 10 meters without worry.
Another popular destination is the islet Gabinière, whose seabed is covered with gorgonians and is populated by groupers and barracudas.
SAINTE-MAXIME
Opposite Sainte-Maxime, “La Sèche à l’Huile” is a dive site that goes down to a depth of 45 meters and is accessible to all.
This dive site is vast and you can find barracuda, octopus or bream. In addition, two caves can be seen.
NICE
Between Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer, les 3 Îlots are actually five underwater reefs 35 meters deep and covered with red gorgonians. Very visual dive, for experienced divers, and allowing the more experienced to then reach the Americans’ drop-off point called “The cable.”
CAP CAMARAT
Between Cavalaire and Saint-Tropez, Cap Camarat, lies the wreck of the Rubis, a World War II submarine and sunk in 1958. The wreck lies 40 meters deep on a sandbar. The submarine is perfectly preserved, making it an idyllic site. Diving is reserved for experienced divers.
CAPO GROS
Not far from Cap d’Antibes is the Cape Gros nature site. Commonly referred to as the “Talling du Cap Gros,” this site offers highly valued underwater fauna.
This dive site is very easy to reach.
CAP-FERRAT
In Cap-Ferrat, Pointe de Saint-Hospice is a great place for experienced divers, reaching depths of 30 and 45 meters. Marine species such as sars, groupers, lobsters and scorpionfish can be seen.
Diving in summer is not recommended due to the omnipresence of boats in the area.