Diary
No need to travel to the other side of the world to discover the underwater world. France offers a variety of amazing places to practice snorkeling. Children can start this activity starting from the age of 6-7. Equipped with fins, masks and snorkels (PMT), you can explore the diversity of the French marine life, its landscapes, its fauna and flora as a family. Canopea invites you to explore some of the most beautiful snorkeling spots in France.
Snorkeling in the Mediterranean
The warm water of the Mediterranean Sea is perfect for snorkeling. The best spots are found in rocky areas, in clear and shallow water, and the Mediterranean coast has a large number of places that meet these criteria. It is also home to an exceptional variety of marine fauna, one third of which are endemic species, which is more than enough to make your trip worthwhile.
● Plage de la Palud, Port Cros, Var
Off the coast of Hyères, the island of Port-Cros is a protected national park offering one of the most beautiful snorkeling spots in the Mediterranean. Head towards the north of the island and the beach of La Palud, which you will reach by a foot. After a 40-minute walk, you will quickly find the spot where you will be snorkeling, which stretches from the beach to the Rascas rock, located just opposite. This fish-rich seabed makes it a place conducive to beautiful encounters: octopus, barracudas, sea breams, black-headed sars, colored girelles, saupes, serrans...
● Anse de Magaud, La Garde, Var
Only a few kilometers from Toulon, in La Garde, the unspoiled landscape of the Magaud cove offers a beautiful pebble beach sheltered by pine trees. If you take the marked marine path or stray a little from it, you will discover an underwater area consisting of rocks, sandy bottoms and large grass beds of posidonia, as well as an abundant local fauna: saupes, sars, sea breams, octopuses and the unmistakable red starfish!
● The Calanques of Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône
The National Park of the Calanques of Marseille is well known. In summer, tourists and locals mix to enjoy the beauty of this area. The variety of underwater sceneries and the numerous animal and plant species present also seduce snorkeling enthusiasts, a very common practice in the Calanques. During your aquatic excursion, expect some encounters with cetaceans, especially dolphins, which are not so rare in the region!
Observe the sea beds in Corsica
Corsica is a meeting place for divers from across the world and has many magnificent spots for those who enjoy aquatic exploration. In the transparent waters of the Beauty Island, you can easily observe cuttlefish, wrasse and sars. With a bit of luck, you can also make some rare and surprising encounters with rays, morays or sea breams.
● Lavezzi Islands, South Corsica
Located about ten kilometers from the coast, the Lavezzi Islands are a small archipelago consisting of a main island and some islets. A protected marine reserve, they are a real life aquarium. The fishes are numerous and familiar to the aquatic explorers, and easy to observe. It is also not uncommon to come across some groupers.
● The Gulf of Sagone, South Corsica
Another magnificent snorkeling spot. The Gulf of Sagone is less frequented than the Scandola Reserve, located further north and classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is therefore a good alternative for those who wish to escape the crowds. This area offers a great variety of landscapes and magnificent sea beds to satisfy visitors, who can observe the very rich fauna and flora sheltered in the rocks and (almost) spared from pollution.
Observe the sea beds in Brittany
We leave the climate of the south of France for the more invigorating one of the Brittany coast. Yes, snorkeling is not only practiced in warm waters. In Brittany, you can also practice snorkeling, even if the water is sometimes a bit chilly with many currents and the tides. However, the seabeds offer beautiful views and a variety of fauna and flora, typical of the Atlantic. During your walks, you can cross the fish and shellfish that you are used to put in your plate: bass, mullet, mackerel and old, among others.
● Glénan Archipelago, Finistère
Do you know where one of the most beautiful diving spots in France is located? Take a guess: a lagoon atmosphere, white sand, transparent water offering a range of blues from darker to turquoise. No, you are not in Polynesia, but in Brittany. The nine islands of the Glénan archipelago are home to an abundant fauna. While walking underwater, you will discover a landscape made of kelp, brown seaweed that form long flat ribbon. You will come across many shellfish and marvel at the colorful corynactis hanging on the rocks!