The waters off the Riviera coast have some fine diving opportunities, particularly the coves of the Var, where a large number of ships and several airplanes lie wrecked on the seabed.

The Parc National de Port-Cros and the Centre du Rayol-Canadel provide arguably the most stunning underwater flora and fauna, but good dive sites can be found right from Menton in the east to the other side of Marseille and beyond. 

It is also interesting to note that this part of the world is the birthplace of modern leisure scuba diving, with the first ever scuba diving club established in Saint Raphael in the 1930s.

Some of the highlights that may be seen while diving include Barracuda, Octopus, Cuttlefish, Grouper, Moray and Conger Eels, Lobster, Crayfish, huge schools of bream, Sunfish and Gorgonian coral.

There are many scuba clubs and commercial dive centres, supplying guides, boats, equipment and diving lessons. 

• See The AngloFILE for Diving, Scuba & Watersports

Most dive centres offer a range of activities from a bapteme (or trial dive), to learning to dive and further training in the sport. 

Two main training organisations exist on the Côte d'Azur. The most common is the French sporting federation in charge of scuba diving (Fédération Française d'Etudes et de Sports Sous-Marins FFESSM), which is a member of CMAS. 

• The entry level qualification in the FFESSM system is the Niveau 1

The other, which is often found in centres used to welcoming English-speaking divers is Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). 

• PADI entry level qualification is known as Open Water Diver

Scuba Diving Safety Information 

Note: This text is meant as a general overview of some basic points on diving safely, specifically in the French Mediterranean. It does not claim to be exhaustive.

France is one of few countries in the world to have specific state laws governing the sport. The vast majority of legislation is aimed at safety, including specifying the maximum number of divers of any given qualification level that can dive with a given qualification of dive guide or instructor in any given depth zone. (0 to 6, 6 to 20, 20 to 40, and beyond).

• Before starting a diving course in France it's obligatory to see a doctor and get signed off with a medical certificate stating there are no "contra-indications" to safe diving. 

Insurance covering diving activities is not obligatory but is recommended. Policies available are offered through the organisation, DAN (Diver's Alert Network). 

It is also recommended to dive only with a qualified diving services company or with an established club or commercial dive centre. If diving with a centre insist on thorough briefings from the dive guide.

If you have your own boat then, according to French law, you all have to be at least Niveau 3 in the French system, and there is a minimum amount of safety equipment you need on board, including somebody to look after the boat while divers are in the water. 

Check weather forecasts, as strong winds and hostile conditions can arrive very quickly in the Mediterranean. Ensure that all on board are competent boat handlers, and that you know where you are going. Be rigorous in planning a dive.

If you are using your own equipment, regular servicing (once a year) is important to help to ensure that the equipment does not malfunction during a dive, particularly regulators and BCDs. Also be sure to dive with a suit (wet, semi-dry or dry) that is appropriate for the water temperature. 

• For a rough guide to temperatures: Click here

Always dive within your physical limits, generally when you are well rested, relaxed and well hydrated. Always build prudence and safety margins into any dive.

Further Information

Other sources of information can be found at a coastal tourist office or (in French) at:

• Comité Départemental de Plongée (Alpes-Maritimes)
  Tel: 04 93 61 26 07
  Fax: 04 93 67 76 74
• Comité Régional Côte d'Azur des Sports Sous-Marins (Var)
  Tel: 04 94 71 63 43

By Alex Diamond, Diamond Diving Ltd
Broughton Manor, Newport Road, Milton Keynes, MK10 9AA
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1908 234030, Mobile: + 33 (0)6 15 30 52 23 / e-mail / Website: www.diamonddiving.net
Copyright © 2006 Alex Diamond All Rights Reserved

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