Banc des vieilles - Marseille & Calanques
Banc des Vieilles is a solid choice for a multi-level dive. You’ll find a series of rocky plateaus, gradually stepping down, providing plenty of nooks for moray eels and lobsters to hide. Keep an eye out for octopus tucked into the crevices. We’d say it’s a good spot for divers looking for a relaxed exploration, suitable for most experience levels.
- Location
- Marseille & Calanques, France, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 43.408030, 6.892383
Marine Protected Area: Esterel
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
- 3 îlots - 42m
- ADMIRAL DUPERRE - 5m (wreck)
- ADROIT - 10m (wreck)
- Aile de Carro
- ALERTE - 8m (wreck)
- ANNE BEWA - 10m (wreck)
- Anse au Canon
- Aritay
- Arpillon Drop-off (wall)
- ARROYO (CIT) - 33m (wreck)
- ARTESIEN - 48m (wreck)
- Baie dès Milliardaires - 13m
- BALEINIERE - 60m (wreck)
- Banyuls Aquarium
- Baou Tailla
Nearest Dive Centres to Banc des vieilles
- Anaya Plongée - CMAS
- Aqua Pro Dive International
- ATELIER DE LA MER
- Balanea
- BeFree2Dive - FFESSM, SSI
- BORMES PLONGEE - SSI, FFESSM, PADI
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
- Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) - Seagrass & Algae
- Moonfish (Mola mola) - Reef Fish
- Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
- hake (Merluccius merluccius) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic Spotted Flounder (Citharus linguatula) - Reef Fish
- grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) - Reef Fish
- Capelin (Trisopterus capelanus) - Reef Fish
- Thornback skate (Raja clavata) - Sharks & Rays
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
- Black-bellied angler (Lophius budegassa) - Reef Fish
- conger (Conger conger) - Reef Fish
- Soldier (Chelidonichthys cuculus) - Reef Fish
- Red coral (Corallium rubrum) - Soft Corals
- Mullet (Mullus barbatus) - Reef Fish
- Pollock (Trachurus trachurus) - Reef Fish
- Jac (Helicolenus dactylopterus) - Reef Fish
- lesser argentine (Argentina sphyraena) - Reef Fish
- Gurnard (Trigla lyra) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Red Band-fish (Cepola macrophthalma) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Banc des vieilles
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