Dives in Marseille

Icarusflies · July 21st, 2009, 10:20 AM

Hello All;

I am going for a couple of days to Marseille and for the first time I will be diving there. I am planning easy dives, wreck in the recreational limits would be great.

Could you recommend good operators.

Thanks a lot;

Steve

Rubis · July 21st, 2009, 11:53 AM

Hi,

I can't comment on dive operators as we always dived with friends with boat over there.

As far as dive sites, I recommend diving at Ile du Planier, there are multiple wrecks there, especially the photogenic Chaouen.

Wall dives are great as well and you can decide how deep to go.

When you leave your car for the dives, I recommend not to leave anything in it, foreign and non local cars are usually the target for break-ins.

Have fun

Cris

Icarusflies · July 21st, 2009, 07:27 PM

Thanks for the info Cris.

Steve

Rubis · July 21st, 2009, 07:33 PM

You can try posting on this french forum : UFP Plongée Technique :: Home

Many tech oriented divers, although not DIR (please don't mention DIR if you post) but probably can suggest local dive operators that will support Nitrox fills and will be OK with non CMAS divers (if you hold no CMAS certs - french are kinda peculiar with that).

Icarusflies · July 22nd, 2009, 03:42 AM

I ll try that, thanks Cris.

Cyrille · July 22nd, 2009, 07:45 PM

Hi Steve,

MArseille is truly interesting for wreck diving: anything from airplanes to cargo ships, liners, trawlers, etc. Some as shallow as 15m (such as Le Dalton and the Chaouen @ Planier island), other quite deeper (30-65m range). They are hundreds of shipwrecks but most dive centers focus on less than 20.

My favourite wrecks there: Le Liban (30m), La Drome (52m), Le Miquelon (52m), Messerchmidt (45m), Le Dalton (15-30m)

More wrecks (in french): Scubaspot - Epaves

There also beautiful reefs & walls, my favourite being "L'Imperial du Large" (60m+), many dives sites in the "calanques" area.

More on reefs & walls: Scubaspot - Marseille - Roches

Be careful about the many underwater caves... they can be treacherous for those who are not cave trained.

Once again, as Chris said: "Don't leave anything valuable in the car" when it is not parked in a secure car park.

If you plan to dive nitrox, that's relatively easy, conversely for trimix it is a real nightmare.

I'd recommend "Atoll Plongee" near the "port de la pointe rouge"

Bienvenue sur le site d'Atoll : LE Centre de plongee a Marseille

Kind regards.

Cyrille

Rubis · July 22nd, 2009, 10:58 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Cyrille)

Kind regards.

Cyrille

LOL ... probably one of the other DIR-Friendly francophones around

Hi Cyrille !

Cyrille · July 23rd, 2009, 07:35 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Rubis)

LOL ... probably one of the other DIR-Friendly francophones around

Hi Cyrille !

Hi Chris...

I remember when you dove with Bernard on the "Togo", about 3 or 4 years ago. You were probably the only female DIR diver in France at that time!

Icarusflies · July 23rd, 2009, 08:31 AM

Thanks Cyrille I ll have a look at thap operator.

Since I gather that we are so appreciated in France, is it a good idea to bring my own twin cylinders?

Steve

Cyrille · July 23rd, 2009, 10:19 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Icarusflies)

Thanks Cyrille I ll have a look at thap operator.

Since I gather that we are so appreciated in France, is it a good idea to bring my own twin cylinders?

Steve

I dive with 2x12L most of the time... Although most french divers prefer single 12/15L, I never faced any issues.

July 21st, 2009, 11:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Rubis(Offline) cave deprived and Kissed Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Broadway, (lost in Central NC, USA far far way from Caves SIGH !!!) Posts: 322	Hi, I can't comment on dive operators as we always dived with friends with boat over there. As far as dive sites, I recommend diving at Ile du Planier, there are multiple wrecks there, especially the photogenic Chaouen. Wall dives are great as well and you can decide how deep to go. When you leave your car for the dives, I recommend not to leave anything in it, foreign and non local cars are usually the target for break-ins. Have fun Cris __________________ Petition against M26

July 21st, 2009, 07:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rubis(Offline) cave deprived and Kissed Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Broadway, (lost in Central NC, USA far far way from Caves SIGH !!!) Posts: 322	You can try posting on this french forum : UFP Plongée Technique :: Home Many tech oriented divers, although not DIR (please don't mention DIR if you post) but probably can suggest local dive operators that will support Nitrox fills and will be OK with non CMAS divers (if you hold no CMAS certs - french are kinda peculiar with that). __________________ Petition against M26

July 22nd, 2009, 07:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cyrille(Offline) New Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Posts: 232	Hi Steve, MArseille is truly interesting for wreck diving: anything from airplanes to cargo ships, liners, trawlers, etc. Some as shallow as 15m (such as Le Dalton and the Chaouen @ Planier island), other quite deeper (30-65m range). They are hundreds of shipwrecks but most dive centers focus on less than 20. My favourite wrecks there: Le Liban (30m), La Drome (52m), Le Miquelon (52m), Messerchmidt (45m), Le Dalton (15-30m) More wrecks (in french): Scubaspot - Epaves There also beautiful reefs & walls, my favourite being "L'Imperial du Large" (60m+), many dives sites in the "calanques" area. More on reefs & walls: Scubaspot - Marseille - Roches Be careful about the many underwater caves... they can be treacherous for those who are not cave trained. Once again, as Chris said: "Don't leave anything valuable in the car" when it is not parked in a secure car park. If you plan to dive nitrox, that's relatively easy, conversely for trimix it is a real nightmare. I'd recommend "Atoll Plongee" near the "port de la pointe rouge" Bienvenue sur le site d'Atoll : LE Centre de plongee a Marseille Kind regards. Cyrille __________________ DOG of the Week! Watch me dive an unidentified wreck (nicknamed "Le Bananier", 96msw). Using trimix of course! Location: La Ciotat, France. Last edited by Cyrille; July 22nd, 2009 at 07:52 PM..

July 22nd, 2009, 10:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rubis(Offline) cave deprived and Kissed Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Broadway, (lost in Central NC, USA far far way from Caves SIGH !!!) Posts: 322	Quote: (Originally Posted by Cyrille) Kind regards. Cyrille LOL ... probably one of the other DIR-Friendly francophones around Hi Cyrille ! __________________ Petition against M26

July 23rd, 2009, 07:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
Cyrille(Offline) New Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Posts: 232	Quote: (Originally Posted by Rubis) LOL ... probably one of the other DIR-Friendly francophones around Hi Cyrille ! Hi Chris... I remember when you dove with Bernard on the "Togo", about 3 or 4 years ago. You were probably the only female DIR diver in France at that time! __________________ DOG of the Week! Watch me dive an unidentified wreck (nicknamed "Le Bananier", 96msw). Using trimix of course! Location: La Ciotat, France.

July 21st, 2009, 10:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
Icarusflies(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Barcelona Posts: 276	Hello All; I am going for a couple of days to Marseille and for the first time I will be diving there. I am planning easy dives, wreck in the recreational limits would be great. Could you recommend good operators. Thanks a lot; Steve

July 21st, 2009, 07:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
Icarusflies(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Barcelona Posts: 276	Thanks for the info Cris. Steve

July 22nd, 2009, 03:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
Icarusflies(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Barcelona Posts: 276	I ll try that, thanks Cris.

July 23rd, 2009, 08:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
Icarusflies(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Barcelona Posts: 276	Thanks Cyrille I ll have a look at thap operator. Since I gather that we are so appreciated in France, is it a good idea to bring my own twin cylinders? Steve

July 23rd, 2009, 10:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
Cyrille(Offline) New Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Posts: 232	Quote: (Originally Posted by Icarusflies) Thanks Cyrille I ll have a look at thap operator. Since I gather that we are so appreciated in France, is it a good idea to bring my own twin cylinders? Steve I dive with 2x12L most of the time... Although most french divers prefer single 12/15L, I never faced any issues. __________________ DOG of the Week! Watch me dive an unidentified wreck (nicknamed "Le Bananier", 96msw). Using trimix of course! Location: La Ciotat, France.