The top 49 dive and snorkel sites in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, ranked by diver reviews, with maps and photos. Read the Nouvelle-Aquitaine guide
This is a great dive site for sea horses observation. The sea grass field is only 4/6m deep. So take care of boats, mainly during summer season... The dive site is located left from the Grand Piquey's jetty.
Saint Yves is the main dive site for all diving clubs of Bordeaux. This is a great place for dive training and orientation. You can reach several wrecks, the easyest is named 'Cote bleu'. With a dive site map, and a good orientation sense, you can try to reach other wrecks... The Marie Noelle (N), the two east wrecks (NE), and several others. The deepest place is Saint Yves whole (the false one), at hight tide you will find around 30m deep. This is the deepest place of the whole Arachon bay. This site is located in Arcachon city, right side of the jetty named 'La Chapelle'. Acces the site from the small Saint François d'assise street, 50m east from the jetty. Saint Yves is also known as Le trou Saint Yves.
Belharra is a classic dive of the area. The shoal is very large, so several dives can be done here. Belharra is located 2nm West from Saint Jean de Luz. Belharra Perdun is also known as Belharra, Belara.
The U 263 submarine wreck is located 18nm from La Rochelle. It takes 1 or 2 hours to get there.
The Jean-Pierre wreck is an old trawler, sunk in 1969. It is linked by a chain to two other wrecks, the René-Hervé and the Perle. The wreck is only 3 min, NNW from the Arcachon hrabour.
This dive site is located into Port-Maguide camping. There is a little beach with a long deck from which you can dive.
This small reef is just located out of Hendaye bay, only 1.5nm from the end of harbour channel exit. Banc de Chicharvel is also known as Bajo Chicharvel.
This is a 1st world war wreck. The wreck does not have a large interest, but fauna is realy abundant (Congers eels, lobsters, etc.). You can reach this wreck from Anglet harbour. It is a very difficult wreck to find (flat wreck).
This is a two levels dock fish boat. This wreck is located at 3 miles away from Anglet harbour.
A classic dive of the area. This shoal (in fact several shoals) are located between Saint Jean de Luz and Biarritz.
This is a classic dive. The shoal is so large that you can make 10 different dives at Les esclaves. Les esclaves is a very large shoal located 2 miles away from Biarritz, 5 miles SW from Anglet. Les esclaves (Tombant sud) is also known as Basse des esclaves.
The Artha sea wall protects the Saint Jean de Luz bay. Dive site is on the bay side.
The Sauerland wreck is a classic dive of the area. For those who knows what this means, the Sauerland is a German sperrbrecher boat of 7085 Tons and 180m long. Finish as degausser and was sunk on 12.08.1944 by a torpedo across the destroyeur ORP Djorum along the destroyeurs Diadem and Onslow, he was immobilized by an air attack by the Coastal Command. The Sauerland is a very well known wreck of local divers. It is located 23nm from La Rochelle harbour, near a danger buoy named Sauerland ! It takes between 1 to 3 hours to reach the area.
Saint Yves area. The Christian Yann wreck is also known as The Christ Yann wreck.
In front of the Jetée de la Chapelle, near Saint Yves.
Large fishermen boat sunk near 1980. The wheel is large; many nets. 150m in front of Saint Yves dive site entrance
Training dive site The Flamment wreck is located 55m east from the buoy. Cazaux lake.
Very few divers. Diving is generally near the 'barage', before the high tide. The 'barage' allow to hold some local marine species. Access from shore only. A parking is available nearby the entry point. Barrage de Vieux Boucau is also known as Lac marin de Vieux Boucau.
It is a good site for the 1st dive of the year. Cool dives with great local marine life (including sea horses). Proximity to channel sides let young divers feeling more comfortable (first dive, dive training). People nearby are often curious seeing divers. This enforce attraction for subadiving. This dive site is located near Capbreton harbour, in the channel connecting to the ocean. Canal d'Hossegor is also known as Canal de Capbreton.
Zentacle lists 5 dive shops in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The top-rated are Planet Ocean (4.9 from 179 reviews) and VSM L'Oceana (4.8 from 76 reviews).
