There’s no need to travel across the globe to find a rich underwater environment. From Normandy to France, the sea depths of France will surprise you.
Book a train ticket
Book a train ticket
Discover the coasts and lakes of mainland France. They contain surprising plants and animals, and fascinating shipwrecks to inspect. Your voyage into the depths is sure to impress you.
What are the best dive sites in France?
En Normandie à la recherche d'épaves sous-marines
While Normandy may not be famous for manta rays or other exotic species, it is home to a different kind of treasure. In 1944, the Normandy landings left their mark in the waters of the English Channel. More than 4500 shipwrecks can be found along the coast of Normandy.
If you want to dive into history, head to Arromanches, the starting point for exploring the remains of the USS Susan B. Anthony. The cargo ship was carrying almost 2400 soldiers when it was hit by a mine on June 7th, 1944. The ship listed to the starboard side and eventually sank, but fortunately, the men had enough time to be rescued. The ship’s bow has been perfectly preserved. As you explore, you will see a defensive cannon that reaches 11 meters down, as well as two derricks.
Practical details: start at one of the diving centres in Arromanches or Courseulles-sur-Mer to organise your expedition at sea and find out more about the required certifications. A helpful tip: visibility is best between June and October.
Cave diving in the Lot
Are you fascinated by the depths of the earth? Try cave diving (aka underground diving), a practice consisting of exploring limestone caves and their crystal clear waters. The Lot region is a Swiss cheese of caves, and is considered by experts as the best place in France for cave diving.
Practical details: the caves are located between Cahors and Agen. In order to cave dive here, you must be accompanied by a TDI cave diving instructor specialised in underground diving. The cave diving expeditions are accessible to people with a level 2 or equivalent certification. On your dive, you will follow your instructor from gallery to gallery while keeping one hand on a guideline that will lead you safely to the exit. This voyage to the centre of the earth will undoubtedly bring to mind Jules Verne’s epic tale.
To learn more, contact Quercy Plongée.
An experience under the ice in Tignes
Imagine a world of ice and silence, bathed in supernatural light. You are in the middle of the Lac de Tignes, under the ice.
This unique experience is accessible to all – even beginners who have never scuba dived before! Guided by instructors, you will descend at your own speed as you let your eyes adjust to the incredible luminosity under the ice. With its stalactites, stalagmites and air bubbles frozen in natural wells like so many walls of ice, the lake is transformed. For a mystical atmosphere and an even more immersive experience, dive at night.
Practical information: The Évolution 2 Tignes centre offers daytime and nighttime dives, led by professional instructors who are specialised in ice diving. The activity is open to both beginners and experienced divers, from December to April.
Mediterranean flora and fauna in Marseille
Did you know that Marseille is considered the birthplace of scuba diving? Its crystal clear waters and wide variety of flora and fauna make it one of the best places in the Mediterranean to discover the marine world.
Head to the Riou archipelago, known for its extraordinary drop-off, a rich aquatic environment well worth exploring. This site offers dives at different depths and is open to all skill levels. Once you are in the water, open your eyes and take in the magnificent spectacle of groupers, crayfish, forkbeards and sea squirts dancing before your eyes. In a single dive, you can get an excellent glimpse of the wealth of Mediterranean flora and fauna!
Practical information: you can reach the Riou archipelago from Marseille by boat with one of the numerous diving centres in the Phocaean city. It’s a perfect setting for beginners and experienced divers alike!