Wall
down to 40 m
Le Grand Salaman
East-wind-sheltered Frioul site with a 15 m rocky plateau for Level 1 divers, schools of anthias and spiny lobsters in the wall's crevices.
- Open Water
- Anthias
Experienced≤40 m
Le Chaouen (wreck)
Dive site in Marseille & the Calanques, France
Moroccan orange freighter lost at Planier in 1970, its stern draped in red and yellow gorgonians with groupers and conger eels under the rudder.
- Max depth
- 36 m
- Level
- Experienced
- Best months
- Mar–Dec
The story
On 21 February 1970 the Moroccan-flagged cargo ship Chaouen was heading for Marseille with 640 tonnes of oranges aboard when it was lost at Planier island. Its stern is now covered in red and yellow gorgonians.
Source: atollplongee.com
The dive
A wreck dive.
Who it's for
Experienced≤40 mSource: atollplongee.com
Recommended minimum: Experienced (Deep Specialty, N3).
- DepthThe usual dive goes deeper than lower certifications allow.
Conditions
- Dive type
- Wreck
- Environment
- Open water
- Water
- Sea water
What you might see
- Conger eel
- Groupers
Season in Marseille & the Calanques
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Good
- Possible
- Closed
- Not documented yet
Good months: Mar–Dec.
Source: myprovence.frWhere is Marseille & the Calanques?
The point shows the Marseille & the Calanques area, not the exact dive site.
More dives in Marseille & the Calanques
Wreck
down to 37 m
Le Liban (wreck)
Passenger steamer sunk off Ile Maire in 1903, lying from 28 m at the bow to 35 m at the stern, swept by schools of sardines, mackerel and sea bream.
- Experienced
- Tuna
Artificial reef
down to 15 m
Les Amphores du Frioul
Sheltered 14-15 m sand bottom off the Frioul where 250 amphorae now rest, home to many octopus, blennies and yellow gobies.
- Open Water
- Octopus
Wall
down to 40 m
Tiboulen du Frioul
Frioul islet with a 15 m rocky plateau for all levels, where groupers, dentex, morays, octopus and cuttlefish are regularly seen.
- Open Water
- Cuttlefish
Wall
down to 50 m
Cap Morgiou
Gorgonian-rich wall stepping at 25 m then dropping to 50 m, where Cassis divers report sunfish and John Dory.
- Advanced
- Mola mola (sunfish)
Wall
down to 65 m
Grand Congloué – La Pierre de Cassis
Deep Riou spur where Cousteau dug in 1952: vertical walls covered in purple gorgonians from 30 m, with barracudas and dentex passing.
- Experienced
- Barracuda
About this page
Values marked “Estimated” come from our original catalogue and are being checked against published sources one by one. Sourced values link to where they come from. Conditions change with the season, the weather and the tide: confirm with a local dive centre before you dive.