ALERTE
Protected Area
Cap Sicie - Six Fours
Why dive here
With 157+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and mobula rays (devil rays) - ALERTE offers some of Marseille & Calanques's richest wreck diving. Water sits around 14°C.
The Alerte wreck is just plain fun, particularly if you’re into the historical aspect of diving. It sits upright in a sheltered bay, perfectly preserved at a shallow eight metres, making it accessible to pretty much anyone comfortable in the water. We love a good piece of history, and this one, a French Navy patrol boat scuttled in 1944, gives you a real feel for the past. Swimming along its deck, you can peer into the holds, imagine the crew moving about. Schools of silvery damselfish dart around the superstructure, and we’ve often spotted small octopus tucked into crevices in the hull plates. It’s a site that rewards a slow pace. Take your time, really look at the details, and let the story of the Alerte unfold around you. Our favourite part? The way the Mediterranean light filters through the water, illuminating patches of the wreck in a constantly shifting display. It’s a gentle dive, perfect for knocking off the rust or introducing a friend to wreck diving without the usual deep-water intensity.
Typical ALERTE Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
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.
ALERTE Wreck History
Year Sunk
1809
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding
The story of the wreck known as the "Alerte" is one of high-seas adventure from the Napoleonic era. She began life as the *Highlander*, a British West Indiaman launched in 1805 to trade with the Americas. In 1807, her fate took a dramatic turn when she was captured by the French after a fierce and bloody battle. Among her passengers was a British naval officer who, despite being taken prisoner, managed to escape and would later rise to the rank of Rear Admiral.
After her capture, the ship eventually returned to British ownership, but her luck had run out. In 1809, she was wrecked and lost to the sea. Today, her remains lie scattered in the shallow waters of Marseille at a depth of just 8 meters. Classified as a dangerous wreck, the site is a jumble of history, a tangible connection to a turbulent past, easily accessible to divers exploring the beautiful Calanques coastline.
Nearest Dive Centres to ALERTE
Dive shops near ALERTE
Toulon Plongée
Bubble Diving
Saint-Mandrier Plongée
UCPA Sanary-sur-Mer
Le Brusc Plongée
OMNIBLUE FREEDIVE
Reviews for ALERTE
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for ALERTE
ALERTE Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for ALERTE, sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Open-Meteo grid (43.2, 5.39) (0km away)
August Averages
Sea Temperature
13.86°C
57°F
Air Temperature
24.69°C
76°F
Wind Speed
6.29 m/s
12.2 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1013.6 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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