Plongee Phoceenne

Situated at the heart of Marseille's Vieux-Port, Plongée Phocéenne provides direct access to the marine protected areas of the Calanques National Park. The centre operates with a focus on small-scale, human-sized groups, ensuring that every diver receives individual attention during their outings.

Whether you are looking to begin your journey with a discovery session or are an experienced freediver seeking technical training, the centre's location at the foot of Fort Saint-Nicolas makes for an easy transition from the city to the sea. The team is a signatory of the Calanques National Park charter, reflecting a commitment to the preservation of these Mediterranean ecosystems.

The centre is led by Erwan Duval, a State-qualified instructor with 18 years of experience in the field. As a professional instructor and a teacher of life and earth sciences, he brings a deep level of expertise to both scuba and freediving instruction.

Plongée Phocéenne is affiliated with FFESSM, SSI, CMAS, and Molchanovs, allowing for a wide range of certification pathways. The teaching approach is designed to be calm and personalised, catering to the specific needs of each diver in small groups.

The centre offers a comprehensive range of training, from the Pack Découverte (PE12) for beginners to FFESSM Niveau 1 (PE20) and Niveau 2 (PE40) certifications. For those looking to progress in technical scuba, the SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor course is available.

Freediving is a core component of the centre's expertise, with Molchanovs Wave 1 and Wave 2 training programmes offered. They also provide supervised outings for certified, autonomous freedivers.

The centre operates a single, fast and manoeuvrable semi-rigid boat. It is specifically equipped for both scuba diving and freediving, featuring dedicated buoys and a freediving pole to assist breath-hold divers.

With a maximum capacity of 8 people on board, the vessel ensures a comfortable and uncrowded environment for every trip. Digital photos taken via GoPro are provided as souvenirs of your time on the water.

Full equipment hire is available for those not travelling with their own kit, including wetsuits, masks, snorkels, fins, and BCDs. The rental package also includes a regulator and octopus, as well as a dive computer.

For those requiring specific components, individual items such as wetsuits or mask and snorkel sets can be rented separately. The centre provides a practical base at the Vieux-Port with access to showers and sanitary facilities.

The waters of the Calanques are home to diverse schools of fish, including sea bream (Sparidae), Salema porgy (Sarpa salpa), and various wrasses. You will often encounter Damselfish (Chromis chromis) and silver seabreams darting through the water, while larger predators like Common dentex (Dentex dentex), sea bass, and Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) move through the area.

In the rocky crevices and along the reefs, look for Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), Moray eel (Muraenidae), and Brown meagre (Sciaena umbra). Spiny lobster (Palinuridae) and Lobster (Homaridae) are also present, alongside Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and various species of squid (Sepioteuthis sepioidea).

Fixed life provides a vibrant backdrop to every dive, with red coral, purple gorgonian, and various gorgonian sea fans clinging to the structures. The seabed is decorated with sponges (Porifera), yellow solitary coral, and various anemones, including the yellow encrusting anemone.

For those with an eye for detail, the macro life is significant. You may find various nudibranchs, including Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani), as well as galathea shrimp, crevice shrimp, and porcelain crabs among the reef structures.

The primary season for diving in the area is from May to October, while freediving can be enjoyed from April to October. The centre's location at the Vieux-Port allows for efficient transit to the dive sites within the National Park.