AUDIERNE
Why dive here
With 77+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, ocean sunfish (mola mola), octopuses and sea turtles - AUDIERNE offers some of Medes Islands's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 13-23°C, warmest July, August, September.
Audierne isn’t your typical Medes Islands dive, and that’s precisely why we love it. Forget the dramatic rock formations for a moment; this is a proper wreck dive, sitting upright and mostly intact at a comfortable 16 metres. It’s an old mobile crane vessel, scuttled back in the 90s, and it’s had plenty of time to really settle into its role as an artificial reef. We always make a point of dropping down to the bow first. The structure here is fantastic for exploring, with plenty of nooks and crannies to peer into. You’ll find moray eels tucked deep inside, just their heads visible, and clouds of damselfish swirling around the main crane structure. It’s pretty shallow, so you get decent light penetration even on a cloudy day, which makes the whole place feel less imposing than some deeper wrecks. Our favourite part has to be the deck area; it’s covered in jewel anemones, creating these incredible bursts of colour against the rusted metal. It’s a great site for photographers looking for something a bit different, and it’s calm enough for divers who are just getting comfortable with wrecks.
Typical AUDIERNE Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
AUDIERNE Wreck History
Vessel Type
barge
Cause
unknown
The history of the mobile crane vessel known as the 'Audierne' is shrouded in mystery. Unlike many wrecks with dramatic stories of storms or warfare, the date and cause of this vessel's sinking are not well-documented. It came to rest in the sheltered, clear waters of Spain's Medes Islands, a renowned marine reserve, where it has since transformed from a piece of industrial equipment into a thriving artificial reef.
Lying at a shallow 16 metres, the Audierne is a fantastic dive for all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned photographers. The main attraction is the large, intact crane structure, which juts from the hull and provides a complex, three-dimensional habitat for a huge variety of marine life. Divers can expect to find moray eels peering from pipes, octopus hiding in crevices, and dense schools of damselfish and bream swarming the superstructure. While classified as a 'Dangerous Wreck' due to potential sharp edges, it offers a unique and photogenic underwater landscape, blending industrial decay with vibrant Mediterranean life.
Nearest Dive Centres to AUDIERNE
Dive shops near AUDIERNE
Club subaquatique de Carry-le-Rouet
Centre Au-delà Plongée du Rove
Marseille Côté Mer Plongée (MCMP)
UCPA
CIP Marseille
L'atelier de la mer
Reviews for AUDIERNE
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for AUDIERNE
AUDIERNE Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for AUDIERNE, sourced from Copernicus Marine satellite data
August Averages
Sea Temperature
23.1°C
74°F
Current Speed
10.82 cm/s
Direction: SW (213.7°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.143 mg/m³
Clear water
Salinity
37.89 PSU
Data sources: Copernicus Marine Service (EU)
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