PlongeeO

Situated in Hyères, PlongeeO sits directly opposite the Iles d’Or, providing immediate access to the exceptional marine environments of Porquerolles and Port-Cros. This location places you at the heart of some of the most significant diving in the Mediterranean, ranging from protected marine parks to historical wreck sites.

The centre operates with a focus on both recreational exploration and professional development. Whether you are looking to complete your first certification or are pursuing a career as a Divemaster, the proximity to diverse habitats like the Gabinière and famous wrecks makes this an ideal base for your diving.

The centre is affiliated with PADI, SSI, and FFESSM, allowing divers to train under various international and national standards. This multi-agency approach ensures that students can follow the specific progression they prefer, whether through the French FFESSM system or the PADI and SSI frameworks.

Instruction is provided by professional monitors who manage everything from introductory discovery dives to advanced professional stages. The team covers a wide spectrum of expertise, including specialized training in underwater photography, video, and drysuit diving.

A complete catalogue of training is available, starting from Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver through to Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver. For those following the French system, the centre offers FFESSM Niveau 1 through to Niveau 4.

Professional development is a core part of the curriculum, with courses for Divemaster and SSI Dive Guide. Specialized training is also offered in areas such as Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Night Diver, and Drysuit diving, as well as EFR and RIFAP first aid certifications.

The centre provides a full range of rental kit for those not travelling with their own equipment. This includes wetsuits, BCDs, regulators, fins, masks, and snorkels. For night diving or technical exploration, torches and dive computers are also available for hire.

Nitrox is available on-site for divers looking to extend their bottom time. The centre also stocks specialized equipment such as pony cylinders and 12-litre deco cylinders with oxygen regulators for those undertaking more advanced profiles.

The surrounding waters are home to a vast array of fish, including Common dentex (Dentex dentex), Amberjack (Seriola), and various species of sea bream (Sparidae). You will often see schools of Bogue (Boops boops) and Saddled seabream (Oblada melanura) moving through the water column, alongside Salema porgy (Sarpa salpa) and Damselfish (Chromis chromis).

For those interested in larger predators or more elusive species, the area hosts Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), and various species of moray eel (Muraenidae). Dogfish sharks and larger groupers (Epinephelus) can also be encountered depending on the site.

Macro life is abundant, particularly for divers with a keen eye for detail. You can find various nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani), octopuses, and several types of shrimp (Caridea). Scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa), crabs (Brachyura), and spiny lobster (Palinuridae) are frequently found tucked into rocky crevices.

The seabed is decorated with a rich variety of fixed life, including red gorgonians, sea fans (Gorgoniidae), and various sponges (Porifera). Encrusting anemones and sea anemones (Actiniaria) add colour to the reefs, while diverse corals and seagrass meadows provide a complex habitat for the local ecosystem.

The diving area is characterised by its proximity to the Iles d'Or, which offers a variety of environments from shallow reef flats to deeper wreck sites. Divers should be prepared for typical Mediterranean conditions, including potential currents when visiting certain wreck sites or passing through channels near the islands.