Iles Sanguinaires - Corsica
Diving the Iles Sanguinaires offers a classic Corsican Mediterranean experience. We often find schooling barracuda here, sometimes in significant numbers, alongside the usual suspects like moray eels tucked into crevices. The site is generally straightforward, making it a good choice for newer divers or those looking for a relaxed afternoon dip rather than a challenging adventure. It's a solid, dependable dive without too many surprises.
- Location
- Corsica, France, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 41.875137, 8.593841
Marine Protected Area: Iles Sanguinaires, golfe d'Ajaccio
Best Time to Dive in Corsica
The warmest water temperatures in Corsica occur in January, averaging 13.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 13.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 13.9°C (air: 9.4°C)
- February: 13.9°C (air: 10.7°C)
- March: 13.9°C (air: 11.2°C)
- April: 13.9°C (air: 13.4°C)
- May: 13.9°C (air: 17.4°C)
- June: 13.9°C (air: 22.3°C)
- July: 13.9°C (air: 25.5°C)
- August: 13.9°C (air: 25.3°C)
- September: 13.9°C (air: 21.6°C)
- October: 13.9°C (air: 17.9°C)
- November: 13.9°C (air: 13.8°C)
- December: 13.9°C (air: 10.8°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Corsica
- A-20 Havoc, plane wreck - 21m (wreck)
- A Casaïola - 13m (reef)
- ADERNO - 55m (wreck)
- AFRICHELLE - 45m (wreck)
- Aile - 19m
- ALBERI (POSSIBLY) - 12m (wreck)
- Aquarium - 19m
- B-17 Bomber Wreck - 24-29m (wreck)
- Bagheera - 9m
- BAGLIETTO (PROBABLY) - 5m (wreck)
- Banc provencal - 40m
- Barakouda Diving Centre
- Benguigui
- BETTOLINA (POSSIBLY) - 12m (wreck)
- Cala dei Santi - 23m
Nearest Dive Centres to Iles Sanguinaires
- ACQUASPORT di Mazzi Stefano & C.S.n.c.
- A PIAGHJA DIVING CALVI - SSI, PADI
- Aquanautic Elba - SSI
- ARGENTARIO DIVERS SRL - PADI, SSI, UTD
- ARGENTARIO - OBI DIVING
- A.S.D. AMICI DI NEMO - SSI
Marine Life in Corsica
Home to 225 recorded species including 146 reef fish, 35 sharks & rays, 9 seagrass & algae, 8 whales & dolphins, 8 other, 5 hard corals.
Notable Species
- Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) - Seagrass & Algae
- Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
- Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Moonfish (Mola mola) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Razorback (Balaenoptera physalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Corb (Sciaena umbra) - Reef Fish
- Scarlet Coral (Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) europaea) - Hard Corals
- Bushy Coral (Cladocora caespitosa) - Hard Corals
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
- Damsel fish (Chromis chromis) - Reef Fish
- Red coral (Corallium rubrum) - Soft Corals
- Blotched Picarel (Spicara maena) - Reef Fish
- Bogue (Boops boops) - Reef Fish
- Sunset cup coral (Leptopsammia pruvoti) - Hard Corals
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo) - Reef Fish
- Devil fish (Mobula mobular) - Sharks & Rays
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Salema (Sarpa salpa) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Iles Sanguinaires
Based on average water temperature of 13.9°C.
- Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 14°C water
- Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories