Le voilier de plane - Marseille & Calanques

We love a good mystery, and the *Voilier de Plane* delivers. This isn't some pristine, intact vessel; it's more of an archaeological riddle scattered across a sloping seabed. You'll find yourself navigating a jumble of ribs, planks, and what looks like old ballast stones, remnants of a wooden sailing ship lost to the ages. It’s less about penetrating cabins and more about appreciating the sheer antiquity of it, the way the sea has slowly reclaimed and rearranged everything. For us, the real joy here comes from the marine life that has utterly colonised the wreck. Small shoals of damselfish dart through the skeletal remains, while octopus often peer from crevices formed by collapsed timbers. Look closely among the shadows and you might spot a moray eel tucked into a particularly gnarly section. It’s a site that rewards a slow, deliberate dive, really taking your time to piece together the story of the ship and observe the creatures making a home in its bones. We’d suggest going on a calm day; the visibility can sometimes drop a bit, but when it’s good, the light plays beautifully through the scattered timbers. It’s a unique experience for divers who appreciate history and macro life over big, dramatic structures.

Location: Marseille & Calanques, France, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 43.188248, 5.389520
Type: wreck

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to Le voilier de plane

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 voilier de plane

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