JOLLY GIALLO - Corsica

The Jolly Giallo isn’t some deep, technical dive, and that’s precisely why we love it. This old ferry, which ran aground south of Bastia back in '74, now sits in a mere 10 metres of water. It’s perfect for a relaxed dive, especially when a Mistral has kicked up a fuss offshore and you’re looking for something sheltered. What you get is a big, broken-up wreck, a real playground of twisted metal and shadows. Sunlight dapples through the shallower sections, highlighting the rust-coloured hull, and the way the superstructure has collapsed creates lots of nooks to poke your head into. We always find the scale impressive, even in pieces. The bow section is particularly intact and feels quite eerie as you swim along its deck. It’s home now to schools of juvenile barracuda, glinting silver as they dart through the gaps, and often some decent-sized dusky groupers lurking in the darker corners. You’ll spot nudibranchs grazing on the algae, and octopuses are surprisingly common, tucked away in the crevices. It’s a photographer's dream for wide-angle shots with that shallow light. A genuinely rewarding dive, and a brilliant spot for newer wreck divers or anyone who just wants to enjoy a longer bottom time without the pressure of depth.

Location: Corsica, France, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 42.683334, 9.450000
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 10m

Marine Protected Area: Saint-Florent (Formation Récifale)

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to JOLLY GIALLO

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 JOLLY GIALLO

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