Epi Le Lavandou

Located in Le Lavandou, EPI Lavandou sits at the gateway to the Port Cros marine reserve, one of the most significant protected areas in France. This location provides immediate access to a diverse range of underwater environments, from shallow reef flats to deeper structures.

The centre operates as a family-run club, providing a welcoming atmosphere for both new divers and those looking to refine their skills. Its position allows for quick boat trips to reach the high-quality sites the reserve has to offer.

The centre is built around a family-oriented approach, prioritising a warm welcome and a sense of community. Instruction is delivered by experienced moniteurs who focus on providing personalised accompaniment for every diver.

Safety and small group sizes are central to their operation. By limiting the number of divers per guide, the team ensures that training and exploration dives are conducted with close supervision and individual attention.

The training catalogue covers the full spectrum of progression. Beginners can start with Niveau 1, which allows for exploration of the seabed down to 20 metres, or participate in introductory dive baptisms available for those aged 8 and over.

For more advanced divers, the centre offers Niveau 2 and PE40 certifications. Specialist training is also available, including Nitrox courses and wreck diving specialties, to help you expand your technical repertoire.

A comfortable boat is used to transport divers to the various sites around the reserve, allowing for rapid access to the best underwater locations. This ensures more time spent in the water and less time in transit.

The centre maintains a fleet of recent and well-serviced equipment to ensure reliability for all divers. A full range of rental kit is available on-site for those not travelling with their own.

This includes everything required for a complete setup, from regulators and BCDs to fins and masks, allowing you to arrive with minimal gear and still dive comfortably.

The marine environment in the Port Cros reserve is exceptionally rich. You will find a variety of fish including wrasses, seabream, sars, and bogue (Boops boops), alongside damselfish (Chromis chromis) and cardinalfishes. Moray eel (Muraenidae) are also frequently encountered among the rocky structures.

Macro life and crustaceans are plentiful throughout the area. Keep a lookout for octopuses and spiny lobster (Palinuridae), as well as various starfish. The seabed is often characterised by healthy herbiers de posidonie meadows.

In certain seasons, you may also encounter the Great barracuda. The biodiversity of the reserve ensures that even a simple swim-through offers plenty of life to observe.