ESPINGOLE (PROBABLY) - Marseille & Calanques

The Espingole. Or at least, what we’re pretty sure is the Espingole. There are a few arguments about the identity of this torpedo boat wreck, but honestly, once you’re finning over her deck, the historical pedantry fades away. We love this site for its real sense of discovery. You drop onto the sand at 40 metres, and there she is, largely intact, resting on her port side. It's a deep dive, definitely one for experienced wreck divers comfortable with limited bottom time. The stern is particularly striking, with the propeller still visible, and the bow section, though more broken up, offers some intriguing penetrations into what were once crew quarters. Inside, the light plays through gaps in the hull, illuminating the thick encrustations of orange and yellow gorgonians. Keep an eye out for conger eels peering from every dark recess and schools of colourful damselfish flitting around the superstructure. It's a sombre, beautiful dive, a real piece of history resting quietly in the Mediterranean depths.

Location: Marseille & Calanques, France, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 43.161380, 6.604265
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 40m

Marine Protected Area: Corniche Varoise

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to ESPINGOLE (PROBABLY)

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 ESPINGOLE (PROBABLY)

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