Chango Diving

Chango Diving is an established diving school located on the Port of Nice, operating along the Côte d'Azur since 2014. The centre is positioned to take advantage of the diverse Mediterranean topography, ranging from shallow reef flats to significant vertical drops.

With two dedicated premises on the port—one at Quai Lunel for equipment and reception, and another at Quai des Docks for classroom instruction and gear maintenance—the centre is well-organised for both local divers and those travelling to the region. The operation is built around a fleet of three vessels designed to reach a variety of environments, from sheltered coastal spots to more exposed offshore sites.

The team is composed of state-qualified instructors holding DEJEPS or BPJEPS diplomas, alongside SSI instructors. This ensures that training meets both high national standards and international certification requirements. The instructors are experienced in a wide range of disciplines, from recreational scuba to professional-level training.

Beyond standard scuba, the centre has a strong focus on freediving and eco-responsible marine observation. They are actively engaged in whale watching within the Pelagos sanctuary, providing an educational approach to observing large pelagics in their natural habitat.

Chango Diving offers a comprehensive curriculum through both SSI and FFESSM frameworks. For beginners, they provide the Open Water Diver (OWD) course and Basic Diver training, as well as introductory freediving. As you progress, the catalogue includes Advanced Diver, Deep Diver, and Nitrox certifications.

For those looking toward professional or technical paths, the centre provides Divemaster, Instructor-level training, and DEJEPS qualifications. They also cater to technical divers with rebreather training and specialized courses like Diver Stress & Rescue and Science of Diving. Additionally, the centre offers boat handling permits, including coastal and offshore certifications.

The fleet consists of three specialised vessels. The Nautile is an 11m dive vedette used for standard excursions. For snorkeling and freediving activities, the Hermine, a 7m60 semi-rigid, is equipped with specialised apnea outriggers. The Emeraude, an 8m60 semi-rigid, is utilised for longer excursions to more distant dive sites.

Nitrox is available for use on the boats to extend bottom times during exploration dives.

The centre maintains a dedicated shop and a wet area at the Quai des Docks location. This facility includes a classroom for theoretical training and a zone for rinsing and managing equipment. The presence of a dedicated gear shop on-site allows divers to manage their kit locally.

The marine life around Nice is diverse, particularly when visiting the deeper walls and rocky outcrops. You can find various species of Grouper (Epinephelus) and large Moray eel (Muraenidae) sheltering in the crevices. Schools of fish are a constant presence, often accompanied by Common dentex (Dentex dentex) and brown meagre.

For those interested in macro life and crustaceans, the rocky structures host Lobster (Homaridae), various species of shrimp, and Conger eel (Congridae). Sea fan (Gorgoniidae) forests provide a colourful backdrop for observing these smaller inhabitants.

The area is also a significant habitat for larger pelagics. In the wider region, you may encounter striped dolphins, fin whales, pilot whales, sperm whales, and common bottlenose dolphins. Seasonal sightings of Risso's dolphins and Cuvier's beaked whales are also possible in the deeper waters of the sanctuary.

Exploration dives are best conducted between April and November. The local sites can be subject to swell and maritime traffic, particularly at offshore locations like Les 3 îlots, which necessitates the use of a boat for safe access.