Corsica offers some of the most spectacular diving in France. Along its varied coastline, you will find everything from dramatic rock faces and underwater caves to colourful reefs and shipwrecks with stories from the past. There are dive sites for beginners and experienced divers alike, and the variety brings many visitors back year after year.
The water around Corsica is renowned for its exceptional clarity, often offering visibility of more than 30 metres. Sea temperatures remain pleasant for much of the year too, giving the island a long diving season.
Corsica suits first dives, training courses and more advanced adventures. The six areas below offer different combinations of clear water, marine reserves, wrecks, rock walls and appealing holiday bases.
These six Corsican towns and areas work particularly well when you want to combine diving with beaches, boat trips, accommodation and other island experiences.
Bonifacio is a highlight of southern Corsica, with the Lavezzi Islands, a dramatic coastline and exceptionally clear water. It is an excellent base for spectacular scenery and the distinctive atmosphere of the island’s south.
Diving centre
Bonifacio Plongée
Porto-Vecchio combines picture-perfect beaches with diving around the Cerbicale reserve. It has a bright, relaxed holiday atmosphere, linking beach life and the marina with gentler dives.
Ajaccio and Porticcio provide easy access to diving in the Gulf of Ajaccio, combining city life and beaches with short boat trips to rock walls, reefs and varied dive sites. Maeva Plongée in Porticcio is an active base south of the city.
Diving centre
Maeva Plongée
L’Île-Rousse is a bright, relaxed base in Balagne, close to coves, rocky coastline and boat trips. It is ideal for travellers who want to combine diving with beaches and small-town atmosphere.
Saint-Florent is an excellent base on the north coast, close to Agriates and Cap Corse. It offers boating, harbour atmosphere and an area well suited to introductory dives as well as more varied diving.
You do not need to be a technical diver to enjoy memorable experiences in Corsica. At the same time, the island offers enough depth, variety and historic dive sites to appeal strongly to experienced divers.
Ajaccio, Porto-Vecchio and L’Île-Rousse are excellent choices for a gentler introduction to diving, with safe beginner experiences, snorkelling and holiday-friendly bases.
Bonifacio, Cerbicale near Porto-Vecchio and Saint-Florent are well suited to divers ready for more exciting underwater topography and several types of dive during the same holiday.
Calvi stands out most for experienced divers, especially because of the B-17 wreck and its combination of history, visibility and distinctive character. Bonifacio offers a more dramatic setting too.
The diving season is long, although water temperature, visitor numbers and activity levels vary throughout the year.
Fewer visitors, good visibility and pleasant conditions for courses and exploration. The water is cooler than later in the summer.
This is the busiest period, with the most departures and the warmest water. Book popular diving centres and accommodation early.
The sea is still warm, while beaches and harbours are usually quieter than at the height of summer.
Explore more of Corsica through relevant articles from our English travel guide.