Aquablue Plongee

Aquablue Plongée is situated on the port of Banyuls-sur-Mer, positioned directly in the heart of the Banyuls-Cerbère marine reserve and the surrounding marine park. Established in 2002, the centre serves as a gateway to the most diverse underwater landscapes of the Catalan coast.

You can access the centre easily by road via the A9, by train through the Perpignan TGV station, or by car from Perpignan airport. Once at the port, the centre is located on the quay, making the transition from land to boat seamless for your scheduled morning or afternoon departures.

The team is composed of professional instructors who have gained experience in various diving destinations worldwide. They provide instruction in French, English, and Spanish, ensuring clear communication for international divers.

Safety and guidance are managed with a ratio of one guide per diver. The centre is also a partner of La Case Marine 5 stars IDC Dive Center, specifically for those pursuing professional PADI training such as Divemaster and Instructor levels.

Environmental stewardship is a core part of their identity. The team actively participates in port cleaning operations and encourages all divers to collect and bring up any marine debris encountered during their dives.

The centre offers a comprehensive curriculum through multiple certifying bodies, including FFESSM, PADI, SSI, ANMP, and CMAS. Beginners can start with PADI Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver courses, while more advanced divers can progress through PADI Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and Divemaster levels.

Specialty training is widely available to refine your skills, including PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy, PADI Wreck Diver, PADI Deep Diver, and PADI Dry Suit Diver. For those following the French federation route, the centre provides training from FFESSM Niveau 1 through to Niveau 4. Professional training is also a key focus, with paths toward instructor qualifications.

The centre operates two vessels to accommodate different group sizes and preferences. Le Vagabond des Mers is a large, spacious, and convivial aluminium boat with a capacity for 40 people, designed for comfort during longer excursions.

For smaller groups or different requirements, Le Caiman is a semi-rigid vessel that carries up to 20 people. Both boats are equipped to handle various trip types, including night dives and explorations of Cap Creus and local wrecks, with snacks provided on board for certain excursions.

The shore-based facilities are designed for convenience, featuring individual lockers, changing cabins, hot showers, and toilets. There is an outdoor area with tables and trolleys to assist with moving heavy kit to and from the boats.

For those requiring rental equipment, the centre provides Aqualung kit, which is renewed annually and maintained with regular disinfection. You can hire a full set or specific items such as wetsuits, BCDs, regulators, computers, and torches for night diving. A certified compressor is on-site for cylinder inflation, and Nitrox is available for use.

The marine life in the Banyuls-Cerbère reserve is exceptionally diverse. You will frequently encounter large fish such as Groupers (Epinephelus), Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), dentex, and brown meagre (Sciaena umbra). Schools of gilthead seabream, sea bream (Sparidae), and various wrasse species are common across the reef flats and walls.

The macro life is a highlight for many divers, with a high concentration of nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani) and various other colourful species. You can also find octopuses (Octopus vulgaris), spiny lobsters (Homaridae), and various scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae) tucked into the crevices of the rocky bottom.

The seabed is beautifully decorated with red coral, gorgonians, and extensive coralligène formations. These structures provide the perfect habitat for a wide array of smaller creatures, including many species of blennies and tripterygiid triplefin.

Diving in this region takes place within a protected marine reserve, which helps maintain the health of the local ecosystems. The centre offers various types of dives, from shallow explorations to deeper wreck dives and night dives.

Night diving is a specific offering at the centre, providing a completely different perspective on the local fauna as nocturnal species become active.