AFRICHELLE
Why dive here
With 213+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, great white sharks, hammerhead sharks and mobula rays (devil rays) - AFRICHELLE offers some of Corsica's richest wreck diving. Water sits around 14°C.
The Africhelle, off the coast of Corsica, is an interesting dive, and one we always enjoy for its accessibility and history. She’s a motor vessel, intentionally scuttled back in 1989 to create a fish haven. This means she’s sitting upright and relatively intact at around 45 metres, an inviting profile for advanced divers. Dropping down, the ship’s structure slowly resolves from the blue. You can navigate her deck and superstructure, which are now completely colonised by sponges and anemones. We’ve often found scorpionfish tucked into crevices and moray eels peeking from the darker recesses. The penetration isn’t extensive, but there are plenty of nooks to explore externally, and schools of damselfish often hover above the deck. It’s a peaceful dive, often with good visibility, making it a solid choice for those keen on wreck photography or just wanting to spend some quality time exploring a purpose-sunk artificial reef. Keep an eye on your bottom time; 45 metres comes quickly.
Typical AFRICHELLE Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Maximum depth 45m exceeds recreational limits (40m). Technical diving certification and equipment required.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Cold water this month (avg 14°C). Drysuit or thick wetsuit (7mm+) recommended.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
AFRICHELLE Wreck History
Year Sunk
1989
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
scuttled
Unlike wrecks claimed by storm or accident, the Africhelle met its end by design. In September 1989, this motor vessel was purposefully scuttled off the coast of Corsica, France. Its sinking was not a tragedy but a gift to the sea, a deliberate act to create a new underwater habitat. The ship was carefully prepared and sent to the seabed to begin a new life as an artificial reef and fish haven, a project intended to bolster local marine ecosystems.
Resting at a depth of 45 meters, the Africhelle is now a thriving metropolis for marine life. Divers exploring the wreck will find that its original purpose has been a stunning success. The ship's superstructure, holds, and decks are now encrusted with corals and sponges, providing shelter for a dense population of fish, including groupers, conger eels, and scorpionfish. It's a dive that beautifully illustrates the transformation from a man-made object to a flourishing natural habitat.
Nearest Dive Centres to AFRICHELLE
Dive shops near AFRICHELLE
ARGENTARIO - OBI DIVING
BLUE DOLPHIN DIVING CENTER
ARGENTARIO DIVERS SRL
ZERO MENO DIVING CENTER
ACQUASPORT di Mazzi Stefano & C.S.n.c.
Reviews for AFRICHELLE
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for AFRICHELLE
AFRICHELLE Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for AFRICHELLE, sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Open-Meteo grid (42.49, 8.67) (0km away)
August Averages
Sea Temperature
13.95°C
57°F
Air Temperature
25.32°C
78°F
Wind Speed
5.16 m/s
10.0 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1013.3 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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