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French Riviera: under water diving and the high life

  • French Riviera: under water diving and the high life
  • French Riviera: under water diving and the high life
  • French Riviera: under water diving and the high life
  • French Riviera: under water diving and the high life
  • French Riviera: under water diving and the high life
  • French Riviera: under water diving and the high life
Divers have a fantastic choice of dive sites in France, with its 3 different seas and coastlines to be explored, each of which can provide a completely unique and special experience. However it is important to realise that whilst under water diving is great in the warm waters of high season, it is not just a summer activity in France. Many dive centers are open to marine enthusiasts all year round. The South of France in particular has a wealth of possibilities for the keen ice diver, the professional looking to hone their techniques throughout the year and even the family of four on a low season holiday wanting to try diving for the first time.

The South of France benefits from a warm Mediterranean climate, meaning that not only does it have the beautifully hot summers that it is renowned for; it also sees pleasant mild winters. In an entire winter season, the locals would be impressed to see more than a couple of ground frosts, though they may often feel the bitter chill of the strong winds that push themselves along the south, particularly between Marseille and Toulon. From Nice to Montpellier one will be sure to find an underwater diving opportunity to suit their tastes, hotels of all sizes and budgets remain open along the coast 365 days a year, offering accommodation choices with enough variation to house everyone looking to plan a diving holiday here.

Easydivebooking.com would suggest any of the following places for a first underwater diving experience or for scuba dives in general in this area:

Nice – One of the most infamous hangouts for the rich and famous along the French Riviera, alongside St.Tropez, Cannes and Monaco; Nice definitely does not close up shop for winter. Best known for its glamorous ‘Promenade des Anglais’, home to the world renowned Negresco Hotel, this city (the 5th largest in France) has something to offer everybody – including divers. Whilst the promenade itself is not largely frequented by scuba divers, the bay of Villefranche – just 6 minutes away by train – provides a wide array of stunning dive sites for people of all abilities. The bay is used by cruise ships as a docking point due to its immense depth and proximity to the shore, a great variety of local marine life can be found here. Cap Ferrat diving center is open all year round, organising a dive a day in the winter months and two a day during the summer, its team does plenty of diving in this area.

Antibes – Situated between Nice and Cannes, for those that could afford it, the Cap d’Antibes has long been a favourite spot for the English when buying a holiday home in the South of France. It is easy to see why; this peninsula provides picturesque walks along the coast with little creeks to be explored along the way, as well as a humming nightlife and restaurant scene throughout the year. Côté Plongée Dive Center is equipped with its own speedboat and brings all of the best under water diving in Antibes, Golfe-Juan and Juan les Pins to its customers. Located right by the sea one can benefit here not only from some fantastic ocean diving, but also spectacular shore diving, naturally rich in all kinds of marine life thanks to its geographic location.

Cannes – Home to the world famous Cannes film festival, this town is a natural hub for celebrity spotters and those wishing to soak up the luxurious lifestyle of the French Riviera. An attribute of this area is its proximity to the virtually untouched Lerin Islands. Ancient home to the imprisoned man in the iron mask, this islands provide some incredible under water diving and snorkelling. The marine life in the dive sites here is diverse and plenty, offering a wonderful spectacle to those who go looking for one. The SYLPA dive boat offers trips to these dive sites and can be found in the old port of Cannes. They also have a villa for rent in the hills of Cannes, making for a romantic getaway to go alongside your French diving experience.

Here we have noted just a few of the wonderful under water diving locations that are dotted along the south of France, to see all centers in this region and equally in the rest of the world, be sure to look at our directory of dive centers.

DIVING CENTERS

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Montpellier – In the region of Languedoc Roussillon, Montpellier is home to Cap d’Adge and its volcanic dive site. This place offers fascinating fauna and flora even at shallow depths. Whilst at most dive sites you would have to go to a depth of over 20m to see a lot of the marine life that calls the Mediterranean its home, here they can often be found just 5m down. Belouga Plongée Dive Center can be found right down by the water, the boats owned by this center are just on its doorstep.

Cap Cerbère – Found just a few miles from the France-Spain border, the commune of Cerbère has played an important role as one of the border train stations into Spain - 15,000 trains pass through the station annually. This region has been home to a large marine reserve since 1974, meaning there are a range of rare and protected species to be found here. Cap Cerbère Dive Center provides the area with a variety of water activities all year round, including scuba and snorkelling during the hot summers, and even ice diving during the winter.