Le Grec partie Avant - Marseille & Calanques

Alright, Le Grec, now this one’s a proper dive. Forget those pretty reefs for a moment, this is a wreck dive with real character, located just outside Marseille’s harbour. We love the dramatic feel of descending onto the bow section of this cargo ship. You drop down to about 30 metres, and the first thing that hits you is the sheer size of it, stretching out before you on the sandy bottom. The wreck itself is well-broken, which means plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. Our favourite part has to be finning through the intact cargo hold, which is now home to schools of humble blennies and colourful nudibranchs clinging to the metal. You’ll spot conger eels peeking out from behind plating, and often some decent-sized groupers cruising along the deck. The visibility here can vary, but on a good day, with the sun filtering down, it’s quite atmospheric. We’d suggest going early in the morning to beat any boat traffic and hopefully catch a calmer surface. It's a dive that suits those with a bit of wreck experience, comfortable with deeper profiles, and who appreciate history submerged.

Location
Marseille & Calanques, France, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
42.994200, 6.278983
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
25-40m

Marine Protected Area: Port-Cros

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 Grec partie Avant

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 Grec partie Avant

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