A scenic seaside village located between Nice and Monaco, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat is by far one of the most beautiful areas for scuba diving France has to offer. With a comfortable Mediterranean climate, abundant marine life, and spectacular dive sites including caves, canyons, and stunning boulder fields, this region has well over a dozen named dive sites, many of which are accessible from shore. Here, we’ll take a brief look at just a few favorites.
La Grotte du Lido - Saint Jean Cap Ferrat Dive Sites
A fascinating dive site that’s easily accessible from shore, La Grotte du Lido is situated on the northeast shore of the Bay of Villefranche. You’ll descend to a depth of 10 meters, then follow a slope that runs parallel to the coast before forming a ledge, under which you will find the entrance to a cave that enters the rock face and runs for a distance of 20 meters. The cave is quite narrow, so it is necessary to swim single file. A large central pillar is located at the entrance, which is at a depth of 23 meters; outside, the wall descends to a depth of 42 meters, where you’ll find a large anchor of unknown origin. Spectacular corals, white-spotted octopuses, and many other creatures inhabit the site from top to bottom; it is fantastic for night diving as well as for daytime exploration.
La Valee des Gorgones - Saint Jean Cap Ferrat Dive Sites
At La Valee des Gorgones, you can either stay in the shallows, where small fish and invertebrates put on quite a show, or you can follow a canyon down to a depth of 35 meters, where you’ll find a beautiful ledge covered in red and yellow gorgonians, with a small wall that drops down to meet the seabed at a depth of 40 meters. Schooling sea breams, comical black grunt fish, and large dorados are just a few of the fish you’ll encounter while diving here; watch for morays, octopuses, and congers among the rocks, as well.
La Gavinette - Saint Jean Cap Ferrat Dive Sites
La Gavinette is a fantastic multi-level site that’s fun for diving night or day. The site features a lovely Poseidon garden in the shallows, plus a slope that allows for a descent from a depth of 20 meters to maximum depth of 40 meters. Ledges along the slope drop away in increments of about 5 meters at a time, and along this spectacular natural stairway, you’ll find an abundance of corals and sponges that shelter all sorts of colorful creatures including starfish, crabs, and nudibranchs. It is not unusual to encounter large groupers here, and sunfish are often seen in the vicinity as well. As an added bonus, there is an 18th or 19th century anchor stuck in the wall; it makes an excellent focal point for photos.
While in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, you’ll find no shortage of topside attractions to keep you and any non-diving travel companions occupied. Museums, including the Ephrussi de Rothschild Museum and the Seashells Museum, are very popular, as are the lovely botanical gardens, walking paths, historic buildings, and beaches. With wonderful accommodations and delectable cuisine, not to mention some of the best scuba diving in France, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat is a place you’ll find captivating. Don’t be too surprised if you find yourself wishing you could stay forever!