Porquerolles Plongée

Porquerolles Plongée is situated on the island of Porquerolles, positioned directly within the protected waters of the Port-Cros National Park. This location provides immediate access to some of the most diverse marine environments in the Mediterranean, from deep rocky walls to historic wreck sites.

The centre operates from the Porquerolles port, offering a base for both introductory dives and advanced explorations. Whether you are looking to complete your first certification or want to refine your skills through specialised coaching, the proximity to the national park ensures high-quality underwater environments.

The centre is led by Michaël Moreau, a sports educator and private underwater coach with experience ranging from beginner levels to 60 metres. The team is structured to maintain small group sizes, with a maximum of 12 divers per guide to ensure attentive supervision.

Instruction is provided in both French and English, making it accessible for international divers. The centre also caters to younger divers with specific programmes, including Bronze, Silver, and Gold diver levels for children, along with appropriate equipment for smaller divers.

The centre provides a dual-pathway training programme, offering both FFESSM and SSI certifications. You can begin with introductory courses such as Try Scuba SSI or the FFESSM Niveau 1 and SSI Open Water Diver. For those looking to advance, the curriculum includes Advanced Adventurer SSI, Deep Diving SSI, and Wreck Diving SSI.

More specialised training is available to refine your technical skills, including Enriched Air Nitrox SSI, Navigation SSI, and Perfect Buoyancy SSI. The centre also offers professional development paths such as Dive Guide SSI and various ecological and safety courses like Marine Ecology SSI and Diver Stress and Rescue SSI.

The fleet includes three distinct vessels tailored to different diving needs. The Grand Bleu is a traditional 1963 wooden trawler that offers significant space, accommodating up to 19 passengers plus a pilot.

For more agile trips, the Barracuda is an aluminium vessel designed for efficiency with front and rear water entry points and two parrot ladders, carrying 14 passengers plus a pilot. L'Aréna is an 8.80m aluminium boat powered by twin 150ch Suzuki motors, capable of carrying 19 passengers and reaching distant sites like La Gabinière in approximately 45 minutes.

On shore, the centre is equipped with full changing facilities, including showers and toilets. There are dedicated eco-responsible rinsing tanks for your kit, as well as specialised disinfection tanks for regulators and masks.

A full range of equipment is available for hire, including wetsuits, BCDs, and cylinders in 6L and 10L volumes. The centre also features an Aqualung boutique and can provide camera rentals for those undertaking introductory dives.

The rocky reefs and walls are home to a rich variety of life, including colourful sponges (Porifera), sea fans, and various soft corals. You will frequently encounter groups of wrasses, such as peacock wrasse and corkwing wrasse, alongside damselfish (Chromis chromis) and various rockfish.

In the seagrass meadows and around the rock formations, look for groupers (Epinephelus), gilthead seabream, and various species of sars. You may also spot moray eels (Muraenidae) and conger eels (Congridae) sheltering in the crevices.

For those interested in macro life, the crevices and sponges often host octopuses, scorpionfish, and various crustaceans. The biodiversity of the national park ensures a constant presence of diverse marine life throughout the diving season.

Diving in the Port-Cros National Park is conducted via boat from the Porquerolles port. While specific seasonal swell and current data are not provided, the availability of different vessels allows for varied site access depending on the conditions.