wreck

Log This Dive

L'hélicoptère

There’s something quite poignant about L'hélicoptère. No, it’s not an actual helicopter, but the nickname for a Supermarine Walrus amphibious biplane, shot down in 1944. It’s sitting upright on a sandy bottom at 31 metres, remarkably intact. You can clearly make out the fuselage, wings, and even a radial engine, all encrusted with growth. We love seeing the schooling damselfish swirling around the structure, darting in and out of the cockpit area. It’s an intermediate dive, suitable for divers comfortable at depth, and typically run as a single dive trip from Marseille. The visibility here can be excellent, especially on a calm morning, letting the Mediterranean light filter down and illuminate the wreck beautifully. Take your time to circle the plane, imagining its final moments. Our favourite detail is the way the soft corals have started to colonise the metal, adding splashes of colour to the monochrome wreck. It’s a quiet, reflective dive, perfect for those who appreciate history beneath the waves.