When is the best time to dive Southern Corsica & Lavezzi?

The good months to dive Southern Corsica & Lavezzi are May–Oct. Main season May–Oct; some clubs also operate off-season, and diving is not reported to stop in winter.

Is Southern Corsica & Lavezzi good for beginner divers?

Yes, partly: 5 of the 11 dive sites we document are suited to Open Water divers, including Cap de Pertusato, Crique à Kiki and Épave de La Pecorella. The others need more experience or a higher certification.

What is the water temperature in Southern Corsica & Lavezzi?

The water is usually between 13 °C and 24 °C over the year.

What marine life can you see in Southern Corsica & Lavezzi?

Divers regularly see dentex, nudibranchs and groupers.

Southern Corsica & Lavezzi

Diving in France

11 documented dive sites, 5 of them for Open Water divers. Known for dentex and nudibranchs.

Good months: May–Oct
Water: 13–24 °C
Levels: Open Water, Advanced, Experienced, Technical

When to go

Pick a month: the diving season, from published sources, and the typical weather.

Pick a month

Best
Good
Possible
Closed
Not documented yet

Southern Corsica & Lavezzi in October

Good season

Sea: 22 °C; at the surface
Air: 23 °C; 17 °C at night
Rain: 60 mm; average for the year
Wind: 16 km/h; on average

Typical weather, not a forecast: averages for 2021–2025 (air, rain, wind) and 2023–2025 (sea), data from Open-Meteo (ERA5 / Copernicus, Météo-France). Covers an area of roughly 10 to 25 km around the destination.

Main season May–Oct; some clubs also operate off-season, and diving is not reported to stop in winter.

Source: visit-corsica.com

Dive sites in Southern Corsica & Lavezzi

From the easiest to the most demanding. Levels with a dashed outline are estimates we are still verifying.

Open Water friendly

usual dive down to 18 m5 sites

Reef

down to 12 m

Cap de Pertusato

A 2–12 m beginner site at the foot of Bonifacio's limestone cliffs, in turquoise water.

Open Water

Reef

down to 12 m

Crique à Kiki

A sheltered 3–12 m rocky bay near Mérouville, home to Kiki, a large friendly grouper.

Open Water
Groupers

Wreck

down to 13 m

Épave de La Pecorella

A 45 m cement-carrier wreck at the mouth of the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio, bow at 6 m and seabed at 13 m.

Open Water

Reef

down to 15 m

Forana Nord-Ouest

A 3–15 m plateau in the fish nursery of Forana, an uninhabited island in the Cerbicales reserve.

Open Water

down to 15 m

Forana Nord-Est (banc de sable)

A 3–15 m sandbank along the edge of Forana island, in the Cerbicales reserve off Porto-Vecchio.

Open Water

For Advanced divers

usual dive down to 30 m4 sites

Reef

down to 30 m

Rocher de la Vacca

A site 15 minutes by boat from Porto-Vecchio, sheltered from wind and current, with barracuda and groupers listed.

Advanced
Barracuda

Rock formations

down to 28 m

Les Aiguilles de la Vacca

An arch-shaped rock on a 13–28 m bottom, extending from the Vacca rock off Porto-Vecchio.

Advanced

Reef

down to 20 m

Phare de la Chiappa

Sand, seagrass and rock at the foot of the Chiappa lighthouse, 6–20 m.

Advanced

Pinnacle

down to 30 m

Tête d'Homme & Tête de Cheval

Two rocks shaped like a man's and a horse's head, near the Sémillante wreck at the tip of the Lavezzi, with rocky walls and canyons.

Advanced
Tuna

For experienced divers

usual dive down to 40 m1 site

Pinnacle

down to 35 m

Mérouville (Sec du Pelu)

Some 30 groupers live around three rocky pinnacles on a 30 m seabed.

Experienced
Groupers

Technical and specialty dives

1 site

Wreck

down to 42 m

Balise Sud – Écueil des Lavezzi

A drift off the southernmost point of metropolitan France, past three ancient amphora wrecks at 38–42 m.

Technical
Rays

Marine life

When the big encounters happen, month by month.

Reported here, season not documented yet:

Dentex
Nudibranchs
Groupers
Dolphins
Rays
Tuna
Barracuda
Crustaceans
Moray eels

Where is Southern Corsica & Lavezzi?

View on OpenStreetMapLocation: Lavezzi archipelago (Wikipedia)Map: Natural Earth

Southern Corsica & Lavezzi: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to dive Southern Corsica & Lavezzi?: The good months to dive Southern Corsica & Lavezzi are May–Oct. Main season May–Oct; some clubs also operate off-season, and diving is not reported to stop in winter.
Is Southern Corsica & Lavezzi good for beginner divers?: Yes, partly: 5 of the 11 dive sites we document are suited to Open Water divers, including Cap de Pertusato, Crique à Kiki and Épave de La Pecorella. The others need more experience or a higher certification.
What is the water temperature in Southern Corsica & Lavezzi?: The water is usually between 13 °C and 24 °C over the year.
What marine life can you see in Southern Corsica & Lavezzi?: Divers regularly see dentex, nudibranchs and groupers.

About this page

Seasons and marine life come from the sources below. Site levels and depths marked as estimated come from our original catalogue and are being checked one by one. Conditions change: always confirm with a local dive centre.

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Photo: Sarah Lee on Unsplash

Photo credits

Sunlight and bubbles in deep blue water, Sarah Lee, Unsplash License, on Unsplash