Le Donator Wreck, Porquerolles: diving a WWII cargo

The cargo ship Le Donator lies upright on a sandy bottom off Porquerolles, her bow at 48 meters and stern at 51 meters. At 78 meters long, she presents a substantial structure to explore, a vessel that survived much of WWII only to be lost to a mine in November 1945. The wreck is often referred to by its alternate names, Petite Terre or Prosper Schiaffino, reflecting its history and the shifting identities typical of wartime shipping.

Your descent to Le Donator brings you down towards a silhouette that gradually resolves from the blue. The ship's deck is largely gone, leaving an open structure of crossbeams above the engine room and former wine tanks. These skeletal remains create intriguing swim-throughs and pockets of shelter for marine life, demanding careful buoyancy control as you navigate the overhead environment.

Mid-ship, around 35 metres, the corridors are heavily colonised, a vibrant display of red and yellow gorgonians. These filter feeders thrive in the strong current that often sweeps this exposed site, creating a dynamic environment where the soft corals sway with the rhythm of the water. Exploring these sections requires a keen awareness of your surroundings and the current's direction.

The bow section of Le Donator, where the mine detonated, is dramatically ruptured, a stark contrast to the integrity of the stern. This explosion site offers a visual testament to the ship's violent end, an open wound revealing internal structures. Moving towards the stern, you find the colossal propeller and the steering wheel still firmly in place, presenting a poignant and largely intact relic from another era.

Life on the wreck is varied and adapted to the depth and current. Beyond the gorgonians, you'll encounter sponges and alcyons adhering to the metalwork. Mostelles and red mullets often navigate the deeper, more sheltered parts of the wreck, while anthias, sea bream, and saddled sea bream move in the open water above, feeding in the currents. These schooling fish add a layer of dynamic activity around the static structure.