Aurea Diving

Located in Hyères, Auréa Diving provides access to some of the most significant underwater landscapes in the Mediterranean. The centre operates primarily around the Presqu'île de Giens and the Îles d'Or, including the protected waters of Porquerolles and Port-Cros.

By working through partnerships with various local dive centres, the operation ensures flexibility in accessing the best sites depending on the conditions. This allows for a varied programme that ranges from shallow, sheltered reefs to deep, historic wreck dives.

The centre is led by Sylvain, a State-qualified instructor and PADI instructor with over 10 years of experience. His background includes extensive diving in both the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, specifically in Martinique.

Instruction is delivered in both French and English, making it accessible to a wide range of divers. The teaching philosophy focuses on a personalised approach, adapting the pace and method to the specific needs and rhythm of each diver.

The centre offers a comprehensive range of training through both PADI and FFESSM/ANMP frameworks. Beginners can start with a Baptême (discovery dive) or progress through the PADI Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver courses.

For those following the French federation route, training includes Niveau 1, PE12, PA20, PE40, and Niveau 2. Advanced training is also available, such as the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course and the PADI Nitrox course to extend no-decompression limits.

Full equipment hire is available on-site for divers who do not wish to travel with their own kit. This includes essential items such as regulators, BCDs, and wetsuits.

For those needing specific technical tools, dive computers and SMBs (surface marker buoys) can be hired separately. Nitrox is available for use, with a small supplement applied per dive for fills of less than 40%.

The Mediterranean habitats here are incredibly diverse, ranging from sandy bottoms to deep rocky walls. You will find large schools of sea bream (Sparidae), Salema porgy (Sarpa salpa), and Bogue (Boops boops) patrolling the reefs. Larger pelagics such as Amberjack (Seriola), Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), and occasional Tuna can be spotted in the deeper waters.

On the rocky structures and walls, look for Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), Moray eel (Muraenidae), and various species of wrasses. Common dentex (Dentex dentex) and dentex are also frequent visitors to the deeper reefs, alongside rays and octopuses.

Macro life is abundant for those who take the time to look closely. The reefs are home to various Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani) species, Dalmatian doris, and flabellina, alongside many different types of crustaceans, including Spiny lobster (Palinuridae) and crabs. You can also find scorpionfish, octopuses, and various species of sea anemone tucked into the crevices.

Fixed life provides a colourful backdrop to every dive, with red gorgonians, sea fans (Gorgoniidae), and various sponges (Porifera) covering the rocks. The landscape is further enriched by yellow encrusting anemones and a wide variety of rockfish.

Diving in the area is subject to local currents, which can be quite strong around the historic wrecks like Le Grec and Le Donator. Frequent currents are also noted at the Pointe de la Croix and Pointe du vaisseau.

The Mistral wind can affect site selection; for example, Escampo Barriou provides a sheltered option when this wind is blowing.