▷ Top 12 places to snorkel in France (Part 2/2)
We meet again for the second part of our journey along the Mediterranean basin. Do you enjoy snorkeling and the seabed rich in biodiversity ? In this second article, we will see which are, in our opinion, the 6 best snorkeling spots in mainland France !
6. Cap d'Antibes
The best snorkeling spot in Antibes awaits you at Cap d'Antibes at the Pelagos Sanctuary. It is a Mediterranean bio-reserve for its flora and fauna. The visibility here is particularly clear. Offshore snorkeling is interesting from Plage de la Salis, Plage de la Garoupe and Plage de I'Argent Faux.
If you sign up for a boat trip, you can even spot dolphins there white and blue, sea turtles and pilot whales in the waters of the Pelagos Sanctuary. Thanks to the trilateral agreement between France, Monaco and Italy, the protected waters are home to a wide variety of marine animals.
5. Island of Porquerolles
To access this major snorkeling spot in France, you must take a boat to the island of Porquerolles. These leave regularly from the town of Hyères. In high season, you will find up to 20 round trips in a day for a cost of around 20 euros. The boats leave from the Tour Fondue and are managed by the public company TLV-TVM. Private companies also offer excursions to the island in high season. They leave from a dozen neighboring towns, including Saint-Tropez, Le Lavandou and Toulon.
In the south-west corner of the island of Porquerolles is the Calanque du Brégançonnet which is another superb place for snorkeling in France. It's actually a narrow crack in the rocks. It offers plenty to see where the granite cliffs meet the sea. Underwater life flourishes here. You will be able to see dozens of wrasse swimming around the waves as well as brightly painted groupers.
4. Port Cros
Near the town of Hyères is the island of Port-Cros. It is also a protected natural park which is home to the best snorkeling sites in France. The fantastic snorkeling starts at Palud beach which is a 40 minute walk from the village. Here you should see barracuda or even octopus. The trail is called the Rascas Underwater Trail, and it is well marked with six individual buoys. Each has an information panel detailing the type of seabed and visible flora and fauna.
3. Sainte-Asile Beach
Sainte Asile Beach in Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer is located in the southwestern part of the peninsula. It is a sandy beach located in the city and which bears the "Blue Flag" label. It is known as one of the best places to visit if you are looking for a great dive site on the French Riviera. To the right of the beach is a beautiful pine forest that is hundreds of years old. It offers ample shade from the scorching summer sun. To the left there is a coastal path. The area has been planted with beautiful Mediterranean thyme, Aleppo pines, rosemary, pine nuts and other species.
Water sports offered here not only include snorkeling, but also diving , sailing, surfing and windsurfing. There is also a restaurant on the beach which is supervised by a lifeguard during the summer months. Parking is along the beach road, but it's not plentiful. To get to the beach from the center of La Seyne-sur-Mer, follow the direction of Saint Mandrier until you come to the signs for Pin Rolland.There is a sign indicating where the beach is !
2. Anse du Corton
Anse du Corton (also called Crique du Corton) encompasses a pebble beach that is located near the town of Cassis (15 minutes on foot). It offers a magnificent view of Cap Canaille. Here you will find a small cafe offering ice cream, drinks and lunch. The Cassis coastal path leads to this beach. It's a scenic and adventurous path to reach the beach, which is a great place for snorkeling. For lovers of tranquility...
1. The Calanques of Marseille
The Calanques de Marseille National Park is a wonderful place to start your snorkeling adventure in France. This unspoilt natural landscape is criss-crossed with beautiful coves that have rightly been compared to little gems.
In this huge marine biological reserve of 43,500 hectares, there are more than 60 individual heritage species that you can admire and rub shoulders with while swimming. With turquoise waters and excellent clarity, the beaches on the coast of the Calanques National Park offer the best conditions if you are looking to snorkel near Marseille. Our favorite spots are Calanque de Sormiou and Calanque d'En-Vau.
France is rich in its landscapes and when it comes to snorkeling, the Mediterranean coast has a large number of gems. Hoping that you will enjoy this change of scenery, we wish you great snorkeling outings, in France or elsewhere.
