guide
Corsica ranks among the most beautiful underwater destinations in the Mediterranean, with clear waters, protected reserves and history-laden wrecks. Baptism diver or confirmed, the Island of Beauty has a spot for your level. You stay at a campsite with water park along the coast? From Calvi Gulf to Lavezzi Islands, each dive in Corsica holds surprises!
Here’s our top 7 of the best sites for successful outings.
In the heart of the natural reserve of Lavezzi Islands, Merouville lives up to its name. This rocky pinnacle, also called Sec du Pelu, harbors about thirty brown groupers who come to meet divers without fear. Three plateaus spread between 16 and 30 m depth, in magnificiently clear water. Many consider this site the flagship dive of all Corsica.
Visitor favorite: the incredible proximity to groupers, approaching within centimeters of the mask.
Practical information to prepare your trip:
At Calvi, the B-17 wreck immerses history lovers in World War II. This American bomber, shot down in February 1944, rests at 27 m depth, short distance from the citadel. With its 32 m length and 23 m wingspan, the plane impresses with its conservation state. Wings and engines remain perfectly identifiable underwater.
Visitor favorite: flying over the intact fuselage, as if suspended over a sunken museum.
Here’s the useful information before you start:
Near Calvi, the Revellata Peninsula is a classic instructors quickly recommend. From 15 m, rock is covered with red gorgonians. It’s common to encounter a grouper or scorpionfish around a crevice. Two sites stand out at reserve border: Saint-François and Sec des Belges. They address already comfortable divers, with water that usually stays clear.
Visitor favorite: facing a large curious grouper, just before tilting along the drop-off.
A few practical landmarks for this dive in Corsica:
Listed UNESCO World Heritage, Porto Gulf delivers a magnificent mineral setting between red cliffs and deep waters. Diving remains prohibited in Scandola reserve heart, but centers at Porto and Galéria offer beautiful sites at its southern edge. Drop-offs, caves and dense fauna reward each immersion.
Visitor favorite: the contrast between ochre surface rocks and intense blue depths.
To organize your outing, remember these elements:
Off Porto-Vecchio, the Pinella wreck is a perfect playground for first wreck dives. This former 45 m cement carrier, sunk in 1967, rests upright on its keel between just 5 and 12 m. This shallow depth makes it accessible from level 1 while keeping the thrill of exploration. Fish and concretions gradually colonize the hull.
Visitor favorite: the adventure sensation of a real wreck, without depth constraint.
Before leaving, keep this information in mind:
In the Sagone Gulf, the Canadair wreck attracts divers seeking thrills. This water-bombing aircraft lies at 30 m depth, in an area reserved for confirmed levels. The descent along the structure offers an uncommon experience, between history and depth. Lighting there remains good despite the depth.
Visitor favorite: the emotion of discovering an entire Canadair resting on sand, 30 m below surface.
Here are the practical points to know:
The Lavezzi Islands archipelago, about ten kilometers from Bonifacio, closes this top of diving sites in Corsica. Its granite plateaus extend between 16 and 30 m, in turquoise water of rare transparency. Barracudas, octopi and rays cross paths with divers of all levels. Baptisms and easy dives neighbor more challenging drop-offs, making the reserve welcoming to the whole family.
Visitor favorite: the color of the depths, a gradient of turquoise worthy of tropical lagoons.
A few landmarks for this last dive in Corsica:
Théo’s advice: for a first family dive, I guide you to Lavezzi or Pinella, where shallow depth and clear water reassure children and adults alike. Book your baptism early in your stay: if the experience appeals, you’ll have time to schedule a second outing at a more challenging site before leaving.
Ready to chain pool swimming and Corsican depth discoveries during your vacation? Compose your ideal stay and find your campsite with water park in Corsica for days that please the whole family!
The best time to dive in Corsica runs from May to October. The water gradually warms up and peaks in August and September, usually with excellent visibility. Spring and early autumn offer calm seas and quieter dive sites.
It all depends on the site. Many dive centres offer taster dives open to everyone, no certification needed, from age 8 depending on the centre. Deep wrecks such as the B-17 or the Canadair, on the other hand, require an advanced certification. The Lavezzi Islands suit beginners and experienced divers alike.
To see groupers in Corsica, Mérouville, in the Lavezzi Islands reserve, remains the reference site with around thirty individuals. The Revellata peninsula, near Calvi, also offers sightings along its drop-offs covered in red gorgonians.
No, diving is banned in the core of the Scandola nature reserve to protect its ecosystem. The dive centres in Porto and Galéria, however, offer superb sites on the reserve's southern edge, in the UNESCO-listed Gulf of Porto.