ADMIRAL DUPERRE - Marseille & Calanques

The Admiral Duperre, resting just five metres down in the Calanques, is one of those spots we always point new divers towards. It's listed as "dangerous," which, for a wreck this shallow, always makes us chuckle a bit. What you’ll actually find here are scattered remains of a battleship broken up in 1922. Think twisted metal plates, sections of hull, and big, chunky pieces of the ship’s structure spread across the seabed. It’s less a single wreck and more an archaeological scatter, a real historical playground. We love poking around the debris field, imagining the ship's scale from these fragments. Light filters through the calm water, highlighting schooling damselfish that dart between the metal. Octopus often hide in crevices, and if you have a keen eye, you might spot a scorpionfish camouflaged on a barnacle-covered plate. It’s a super relaxed dive, perfect for working on buoyancy or just enjoying a long, shallow exploration. Come here on a sunny afternoon; the visibility usually stretches out beautifully, letting you appreciate the scale of the wreckage.

Location
Marseille & Calanques, France, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
43.041668, 6.169445
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
5m

Wreck History - ADMIRAL DUPERRE

Vessel Type
warship
Cause
unknown

This shallow wreck is named for Guy-Victor Duperré, a celebrated French admiral of the Napoleonic era. Duperré is most famous for his command during the 1810 Battle of Grand Port off Mauritius, a rare and decisive French naval victory over the British Royal Navy. His tactical brilliance in luring a superior British squadron into treacherous coastal waters, where they became trapped and were systematically defeated, cemented his place in French naval history. Several French warships were later named in his honor, and it is one of these vessels that now lies wrecked off the coast of Marseille.

Resting in just 5 meters of water, the Admiral Duperré is now a scattered and broken field of wreckage. Its shallow depth and classification as a "dangerous wreck" suggest it poses a navigational hazard and has been heavily impacted by time and tide. For divers and snorkelers, the site offers an easily accessible glimpse into maritime history. While the vessel's structure is no longer intact, exploring the debris field can reveal sections of hull plating and machinery, all heavily colonized by the Mediterranean's marine life. It serves as a stark reminder of the power of the sea, lying in the shadow of the Calanques National Park.

Marine Protected Area: Pointe du bon renaud

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)

Nearby Dive Sites in Marseille & Calanques

Nearest Dive Centres to ADMIRAL DUPERRE

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.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for ADMIRAL DUPERRE

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