Le CATALINA - Marseille & Calanques

The Catalina, a PBY-5A seaplane, is one of our favourite dives in the Calanques, and it’s surprisingly intact for a wreck with a story. It went down in 1944, shot by the Germans, and now rests on a sandy bottom, broken but still recognisably a plane. We love dropping onto the sandy patch and seeing the dark outline emerge, the wings spread out, the tail section surprisingly upright. You can spend a good chunk of a dive finning around it, peeking into the cockpit area where the gauges are still visible, or checking out the gun turrets. Schools of damselfish shimmer around the fuselage, and we’ve often spotted moray eels tucked into the bomb bay or under the wings. The Mediterranean nudibranchs here are particularly colourful, little pops of orange and purple against the metal. It’s not a deep dive, around 25-30 metres, which means decent bottom time and good light penetration on a sunny day. We’d suggest going in the morning before the boat traffic picks up; it makes for a much calmer experience. For divers who appreciate history and wrecks that still tell a tale, the Catalina is a real treat.

Location
Marseille & Calanques, France, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
43.741600, 7.448700
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
15-30m

Marine Protected Area: Cap Martin

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 Le CATALINA

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 Le CATALINA

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