Good Diving in Nice, France?

[Ian Gould]

Hi Everyone,

I'm off to Nice in France on a business trip in mid July and would like to get in a spot of diving whilst there. Does anyone have any recommendations of dive sites or any diving establishments (shops, schools, clubs) able to take me out for a dive.

I'm a BS-AC Advanced diver and my preference would be for something a little bit adventurous - wreck diving or drop-offs rather than just a quick dip across boring sand with no fish!

Unfortunately, it will be mid-week and I'll be on my own ;^(

Cheers, IanG.

[Mike Halligan]

Ian,

The current DIVE carries a letter (p13) on the Cote D'Azur referring back to September 2002.

The earlier writer is our Branch webmaster, so try e-mailing Kerry on
"mailto:<a href="mailto:southport.uk@btopenworld.com">southport.uk@btopenworld.com</a>"
for full details.

Hope this helps,

Mike

[alison boler]

Ian,

I believe that there are some fantastic wrecks off the coast there including a submarine. I think they're reasonably deep but quite "doable". Mike B our webmaster is a long term resident of the area so I'm sure he can advise you on operators if you drop him a note.

Allie

[C Ingham]

Try the Espadon

Live abord that has the highest recomendation I can give. Great food, fantastic diving, good company etc.

Operates out of Cavalare (about 2 hours from Nice). If they do not have a one day space for you I am sure they would recomend somone who does.

[jens hucke]

Around Nice you will find 2 wrecks.

One is a small 2 seater plane in 47 metres, and it just sits there on it's own in the sand. I guess it went down in the 70's. Starting to really break up, and you will struggle to find someone taking you there unless they know you. Not really worth the effort. It is marked on the charts.

The other is a small twin motored sport boat that went down 2 years ago. It lies in 32 metres, about a good 5 minute fin from La Grotte au Corail. It's only about 8 metres long, and has been totally plundered.

I was told there is also a sailing boat somewhere, but haven't dived it.

There are drop-offs nearly everywhere! Freedivers train regularly in the area, because the Alpes Maritime just carry on past the shore line, and on, and on...

There are many dive outfits based in Nice harbour. I go with Marc Ettourneau from Exploration Sous Marine, also known as Nice Diving. Easy to spot as the shop frontage has 2 "panto" styled polyester cylinders in front. They are nice guys, go out twice every week day, and have decent kit, mainly scubapro. Usually it isn't quite as overcrowded as the other oufits, as it is a club as well as a shop. If she is still there have a word with "Doro". She is a good diver as well as possibly the best English speaker there. Sites are reached within 20 minutes, and diving is done from anchor.

I can email you more info offline if you drop me an email.
Regards
jens

[jens hucke]

Hello Allie,

The Sub is the Rubis ( 40ish metres), and is further along the coast past St Tropez and towards Hyeres, with many great wrecks in the 30 to 55 metres range. From Nice it is about a 2 to 3+ hours drive West. Great viz, sealife too, as you are close to the nature and marine reserve and PortCros.

There is a BSAC centre based at a camping site by Port Grimaud.
<a href="http://www.diveazur.com/" >http://www.diveazur.com/</a>
Unfortunately we didn't see anyone there when we casually drove past earlier this year.

We went to Sub Plongee, which is further along, has Nitrox and 2 hardboats. We also went to the Hyeres harbour, and counted 3 dive outfits plus 2 clubs offering dive trips!

It is possible to leave Nice at 5.30 AM, and get to Sub Plongee in time for the first dive if you have a hire car, but it's hard work.
regards
jens

[Gary Cameron]

Hi Everyone,

I'm off to Nice in France on a business trip in mid July and would like to get in a spot of diving whilst there. Does anyone have any recommendations of dive sites or any diving establishments (shops, schools, clubs) able to take me out for a dive.

I'm a BS-AC Advanced diver and my preference would be for something a little bit adventurous - wreck diving or drop-offs rather than just a quick dip across boring sand with no fish!

Unfortunately, it will be mid-week and I'll be on my own ;^(

Cheers, IanG.

Ian

I went to Nice about 2 weeks ago. Flew down to Nice with Jet2 from Leeds Bradford Airport. Then got a hire car and drove to Port Grimaud which is where Cote d azur diving is based. I picked them becuase they were BSAC affilited and also because of there proximity to quite a few number of wrecks.

The chap who runs cote d azur diving is called Jon Clark and can be found on the webpage listing. They dive from a 7 metre RIB which is owned by Tom and Ingrid. Tom is an Ex DO and Ingrid an Ex Training officer. So between Jon, Tom and Ingrid they are very understanding of British Diving and requirements.

We dived Le Espangole which is an broken French Destroyer. It is not really broken but all the plates are missing. It was a very good dive with lots of internal bits to see. It was like one of those diagrams where the outside has been removed to show the full internal workings.

Then did the Prophete which was an old steam/sail ship. It was interesting but not as good as the destroyer.

Then did Le Rebis which was absolutly fantastic. You can see the fully intact sub from about 15 metres. Some of the outer plates have been removed so you can see interesting bits. It was better than I could have imagined.

Then did the Relax. Was told the viz was going to be awful but it was UK type 6-7 metres. Another fully intact tub. Was good.

Lastly did a scenic dive which was alot better than I thought it would be. There was some coral and quite a lot of life. I was expecting it to be like Cyprus scenic dives but was much better.

Port Grimaud is a relaxing place to have a meal and there was a place called munros that served meals bigger than just about anywhere I have seen.

I put a request on this forum last year and must thank Mike Busilatti for giving me much info and help.

I would recommend it. Give Jon a call and I am sure he will sort you out. One thing though July may be quite busy and they may have more difficulty getting the wrecks in.

Regards

Gary

[andy botten]

I lived & dived in the Antibes area about 1/2 hour from Nice.
I agree lots of life.
Lots of baracuda start to appear about now.

I did most of my diving with Association Plongee d' Antibes who don't get around into Cannes bay that much.

Cap d' Antibes has some good drop offs.
there is a professional outfit Camp Fabulite - they have Nitrox
<a href="http://www.fabulite.com" >http://www.fabulite.com</a>
I used them for fills last time I was there.

Cannes bay has a cable layer sunk during the war - congers.
AIUI There is also some very good diving to be done from the two islands in the bay.

HTH

[aquabin]

:=Hi Everyone,
:=
:=I'm off to Nice in France on a business trip in mid July and would like to get in a spot of diving whilst there. Does anyone have any recommendations of dive sites or any diving establishments (shops, schools, clubs) able to take me out for a dive.
:=
:=I'm a BS-AC Advanced diver and my preference would be for something a little bit adventurous - wreck diving or drop-offs rather than just a quick dip across boring sand with no fish!
:=
:=Unfortunately, it will be mid-week and I'll be on my own ;^(
:=
:=Cheers, IanG.

Ian

I went to Nice about 2 weeks ago. Flew down to Nice with Jet2 from Leeds Bradford Airport. Then got a hire car and drove to Port Grimaud which is where Cote d azur diving is based. I picked them becuase they were BSAC affilited and also because of there proximity to quite a few number of wrecks.

The chap who runs cote d azur diving is called Jon Clark and can be found on the webpage listing. They dive from a 7 metre RIB which is owned by Tom and Ingrid. Tom is an Ex DO and Ingrid an Ex Training officer. So between Jon, Tom and Ingrid they are very understanding of British Diving and requirements.

We dived Le Espangole which is an broken French Destroyer. It is not really broken but all the plates are missing. It was a very good dive with lots of internal bits to see. It was like one of those diagrams where the outside has been removed to show the full internal workings.

Then did the Prophete which was an old steam/sail ship. It was interesting but not as good as the destroyer.

Then did Le Rebis which was absolutly fantastic. You can see the fully intact sub from about 15 metres. Some of the outer plates have been removed so you can see interesting bits. It was better than I could have imagined.

Then did the Relax. Was told the viz was going to be awful but it was UK type 6-7 metres. Another fully intact tub. Was good.

Lastly did a scenic dive which was alot better than I thought it would be. There was some coral and quite a lot of life. I was expecting it to be like Cyprus scenic dives but was much better.

Port Grimaud is a relaxing place to have a meal and there was a place called munros that served meals bigger than just about anywhere I have seen.

I put a request on this forum last year and must thank Mike Busilatti for giving me much info and help.

I would recommend it. Give Jon a call and I am sure he will sort you out. One thing though July may be quite busy and they may have more difficulty getting the wrecks in.

Regards

Gary

I'd agree with that summation, we dived with Jon last year and a French lady as out Instructor on Padi AOW (Dont shoot me down), she was brill, the diving was good rather than spectacular but very enjoyable none the less. The 'shop' is often empty as they dive twice a day both Rib and shore plus a host of Padi stuff to boot so dont be put off if they arent there when you call. Typically it looks chaotic but is well organised and safe. The roads around that area are a nightmare in high summer as is/was the driving down, I'd get a plane next time. Bsac mag did an article on the area in one of their short break items.
Have a good time.

Matt