Grand Congloue - Marseille & Calanques

Grand Congloue isn’t just a dive; it’s a trip back in time, especially if you’ve read anything about Cousteau. We love dropping onto this reef, knowing exactly where Jacques and his team made their pioneering finds. The main draw is the sheer wall that drops from around 15 metres, plummeting to 40 metres and beyond. It’s covered in some spectacular red coral, thick bushes of it, interspersed with dark patches of black coral deeper down. Keep an eye out for the big dory that often hang around the ledges, and we’ve seen impressive garrupa here too, often tucked away. The deeper sections require good buoyancy and awareness, as you're navigating quite a steep face. We’d suggest going early in the morning to beat the boat traffic and catch the light filtering through the water, it’s quite dramatic. It’s an intermediate dive, definitely one for those comfortable with deeper profiles and managing their air. If you appreciate a site with a compelling story, Grand Congloue is our pick.

Location
Marseille & Calanques, France, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
43.180000, 5.390000
Maximum Depth
15-40m
Difficulty
Intermediate

Marine Protected Area: Sormiou

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 Grand Congloue

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 Grand Congloue

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