Diving in Marseille & Calanques

Explore 422 dive sites in Marseille & Calanques, France. Ocean conditions, marine species, and dive centres.

Best Time to Dive in Marseille & Calanques

The warmest water temperatures in Marseille & Calanques 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: 8.8°C)
  • February: 13.9°C (air: 10.5°C)
  • March: 13.9°C (air: 11.6°C)
  • April: 13.9°C (air: 13.8°C)
  • May: 13.9°C (air: 17.8°C)
  • June: 13.9°C (air: 22.3°C)
  • July: 13.9°C (air: 24.9°C)
  • August: 13.9°C (air: 24.7°C)
  • September: 13.9°C (air: 21.3°C)
  • October: 13.9°C (air: 17.8°C)
  • November: 13.9°C (air: 13.2°C)
  • December: 13.9°C (air: 9.9°C)

Marine Life in Marseille & Calanques

Home to 163 recorded species including 101 reef fish, 17 sharks & rays, 10 whales & dolphins, 6 crabs & lobsters, 6 octopus & squid, 5 hard corals.

Dive Site Difficulty in Marseille & Calanques

Marseille & Calanques has 30 beginner, 16 intermediate, 1 advanced, 2 expert dive sites - suitable for divers of all levels.

Recommended Packing List for Marseille & Calanques

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

Marine Protected Areas in Marseille & Calanques

  • Port-Cros - National Park - Core Area (IUCN Category II)
  • Cap taillat – cap camarat - Land acquired by Conservatoire du Littoral (national seaside and lakeside conservancy) (IUCN Category IV)
  • Domaine du rayol - Land acquired by Conservatoire du Littoral (national seaside and lakeside conservancy) (IUCN Category IV)
  • Massif de l\'esterel - Land acquired by Conservatoire du Littoral (national seaside and lakeside conservancy) (IUCN Category IV)
  • Port d\'alon - nartette - Land acquired by Conservatoire du Littoral (national seaside and lakeside conservancy) (IUCN Category IV)
  • Port-Cros - Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (Barcelona Convention) (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Theys de l’embouchure du rhone - Land acquired by Conservatoire du Littoral (national seaside and lakeside conservancy) (IUCN Category IV)
  • Côte languedocienne - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Camargue - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Iles d'Hyères - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Iles Marseillaises - Cassidaigne - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Archipel des Embiez - Six Fours - Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (Barcelona Convention) (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Cote Bleue - Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (Barcelona Convention) (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
  • Port-Cros [Aire D\'Adhésion] - National Park - Buffer zone/Area of adhesion (IUCN Category V)
  • Calanques [Aire D\'Adhésion] - National Park - Buffer zone/Area of adhesion (IUCN Category V)
  • Calanques - National Park - Core Area (IUCN Category II)
  • Pointe De Beauduc - Biotope Protection Order (IUCN Category IV)
  • Iles du frioul - Land acquired by Conservatoire du Littoral (national seaside and lakeside conservancy) (IUCN Category IV)
  • Batterie du graillon - Land acquired by Conservatoire du Littoral (national seaside and lakeside conservancy) (IUCN Category IV)
  • Brasinvert - Land acquired by Conservatoire du Littoral (national seaside and lakeside conservancy) (IUCN Category IV)
  • Pointe du bon renaud - Land acquired by Conservatoire du Littoral (national seaside and lakeside conservancy) (IUCN Category IV)
  • Ile du grand rouveau - les embiez - Land acquired by Conservatoire du Littoral (national seaside and lakeside conservancy) (IUCN Category IV)
  • Récifs du banc de l'Ichtys et du canyon de Sète - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Grands dauphins du golfe du Lion - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Récifs des canyons Lacaze-Duthiers, Pruvot et Bourcart - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Embouchure du fleuve Var (Partie marine) - Biotope Protection Order (IUCN Category IV)
  • Oiseaux marins sud golfe du Lion - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Sormiou - Land acquired by Conservatoire du Littoral (national seaside and lakeside conservancy) (IUCN Category IV)
  • Calanques et îles marseillaises - Cap Canaille et massif du Grand Caunet - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Baie de la Ciotat - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Côte Bleue Marine - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Lagune du Brusc - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Le Petit Rhône - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Posidonies du cap d'Agde - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Posidonies de la côte palavasienne - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Cours inférieur de l'Hérault - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Bancs sableux de l'Espiguette - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Le Rhône aval - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Camargue - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Baie et cap d'Antibes - îles de Lerins - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • La Pointe Fauconnière - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Rade d'Hyères - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Corniche Varoise - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Esterel - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Cap Martin - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Cap Ferrat - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Cap Sicie - Six Fours - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Embouchure de l'Argens - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Embiez - cap Sicie - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)

Getting to Marseille & Calanques - Nearest Airports

  • Le Castellet Airport (CTT), Le Castellet, Var - 11 km away, approx 27 min travel time
  • Marseille Provence Airport (MRS), Marignane, Bouches-du-Rhône - 58 km away, approx 79 min travel time
  • Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE), Nice, Alpes-Maritimes - 113 km away, approx 138 min travel time

Dive Sites

Dive Centres