Shipwreck Diving in Corsica, France

While France isn’t typically included on lists for top dive destinations, it still has a lot to offer and shouldn’t be overlooked! Home to a variety of incredible dive sites along its coast, the country is most famous for its shipwreck dives, which are some of the best in all of Europe. Many of these wrecks are located just off the shores of Corsica, a small island that lies in the western Mediterranean sea, between France and Italy. Here you’ll find incredibly well-preserved wrecks, crystal clear waters, and thriving marine life. To help you plan your trip to this unexpected paradise, we’ve compiled a short guide that will reveal to you all there is to know about shipwreck diving in Corsica, France. 

 

When To Go

 

Although it’s possible to dive in Corsica year-round, the best time for diving is generally considered to be between the months of May and September. During this period, the temperature, both on land and in the sea, is pleasantly warm. Water clarity is also ideal at this time, with visibility of more than 30 meters in certain places. Outside of these months, colder temperatures, low water visibility, and choppy waters make diving a bit more challenging and unpredictable, although not impossible. If you plan on diving during the off-season, it’s best to check with your dive operator ahead of time to see which dive sites will be available and accessible for you to visit.

 

What To Expect

 

While you can explore the dive sites of Corsica by liveaboard, many of them are easily accessible from shore by short boat trips. As such, most divers will simply base themselves off land and connect with a local dive operator to schedule their trips. You can easily find a variety of operators on the island, offering different day or half-day trips out to the dives site. Some operators work out of small fishing vessels, while others offer trips out on luxurious catamarans and large yachts; it just depends on your budget, destination, and the size of the group that you’re diving with.

 

What You’ll See

 

Corsica is known for its abundance of cargo and WWII wrecks, so you can expect to have the opportunity to view many of them up close and personal. You’ll discover that quite a few of the wrecks have even become integral parts of the underwater ecosystem, taking on the role of artificial reef in some cases. As a result of this, it won’t just be the shipwrecks that you’ll have the chance to encounter, but also the marine life that now inhabits them. As you’re exploring the wrecks, you can expect to spot everything from reef fish to large groupers, moray eels, lobsters, sea turtles, and reef sharks.

 

In addition, you’ll probably be presently surprised by the clarity of the water, even around the shipwrecks. While part of this can be attributed to the weather and ideal diving conditions that are present during the high season, the clear water is, in fact, mainly due to conservation efforts in the area. There are two marine nature reserves off the shore of Corisca, which work to reduce the water pollution around the island. As a result of this, the waters surrounding Corsica are some of the cleanest in the entire Mediterranean Sea – which means you’ll be able to see everything in greater detail from a greater distance! 

 

Best Dive Sites 

 

There are several wreck dives around the island of Corsica that are worth checking out. We’ve highlighted a few of our favorites below for you to consider when planning your own dive trip to the French island!

 

Alcione C 

 

Considered to be one of the best wreck dives in Corsico, Alcione C was an Italian transport ship that was torpedoed in 1943 during WWII. Today it lies 35 meters below the surface, just north of Corsica, where it is now home to a variety of coral and marine life, including a large population of groupers. Given its depth, only those who possess an advanced divers certification will be able to access this shipwreck. 

 

Boeing B-17 

 

Surprisingly enough, in addition to shipwrecks, there also happen to be a few plane wrecks just off the shores of Corsica. The Boeing B-17 was a bomber plane for the United States Air Force during WWII. It was shot down by German fighter planes in 1944 and sank in the sea of Calvi, just a few miles northwest of Corsica. Today, the plane lies 27 meters below sea and is only accessible to those with an advanced divers certification. Those who are able to dive down to view the aircraft will be surprised to find that it is largely intact, with its wings still attached to the cabin. In addition to the plane, you’re likely to spot moray eels, labrum fish, and girella fish swimming around the wreck.

 

Canadair 

 

Located in the Gulf of Sagone, to the south of Corsica, lies another plane wreck – that of Canadair. This small plane was helping to fight a forest fire when it went down in 1971. It crashed due to technical difficulties while attempting to gather water for an airdrop. Today the plane lies 30 meters below the surface, meaning an advanced divers certification is required in order to visit it. Those who venture down to its depth will be greeted with a largely intact plane, although its engines are missing. Home to a few marine creatures, you’ll likely to spot lobsters and groupers during your dive.





La Pecorella 

 

La Pecorella is one of the easiest and most often visited wreck dives in Corsica. Located near Porto Vecchio, on the southeast side of the island, this shipwreck lies only 14 meters below the surface, making it an excellent option for new and beginner divers. Once used as a cargo ship, La Pecorella sank in 1965 while transporting cement. Some say the boat sank because of a storm. Others claim that the crew became too intoxicated while approaching the island and struck the cliffs that line the shores of Corsica. Either way, the ship now lies just steps away from Corsica and has become one of the most well-known wreck dives in the area.



References:

 

SSI: https://www.divessi.com/en/mydiveguide/destination/corsica-9752362

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