Le Maraudeur B26 - Marseille & Calanques

We’ll be honest, the Maraudeur B26 isn’t one of those big, dramatic wrecks that grab headlines, but we love it for its quiet charm and accessibility. This old Dornier 24 flying boat, brought down in 1944, lies in three main sections, spread across a sandy bottom, about 25 metres down. You drop onto the starboard wing first, then follow the debris field to the central fuselage, where you can still make out the cockpit. The real joy here is exploring the smaller pieces – an engine, the tail section with its distinctive twin rudders – all now heavily encrusted with red gorgonian corals and sponges. It’s a fantastic site for photographers, especially macro fans, because the wreck parts are absolutely covered in nudibranchs, small blennies, and some really chunky scorpionfish that blend in perfectly. We always see conger eels peeking out from under the larger metal plates, and often schools of damselfish flitting through the corroded framework. Our favourite moment is swimming through the main fuselage section; the light plays beautifully through the breaks in the metal. It’s a gentle dive, perfect for those newer to wreck diving or anyone who appreciates the subtle beauty of history reclaimed by the sea.

Location: Marseille & Calanques, France, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 43.043682, 5.845533
Type: wreck

Marine Protected Area: Cap Sicie - Six Fours

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 Le Maraudeur B26

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 Le Maraudeur B26

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