If you are a watersports junkie and like to experience the thrill underwater, then scuba diving in Monaco is one thing you should not miss. The deep, blue seas are always alluring. Just looking at them gives you a sense of peace and calm. The Mediterranean coastline in Monaco provides one of the best diving spots you could ask for. It boasts of rich marine life and diverse corals which makes the experience of scuba diving in Monaco once in a lifetime.
Guide To Scuba Diving In Monaco
Scuba diving in Monaco, France is just surreal. The state, which is mostly known for its casinos and the Grand Prix, gives one of the best diving experiences with its pristine blue water and rich marine life. The diverse marine life will just amaze you. You get to see a lot of unique species of aquatic animals that you would have only seen on Discovery channel or Nat Geo. If you do not yet know how to dive, there are plenty of diving schools around this tiny state that teach you whatever you need to know before they take you a real-life experience out to the Mediterranean coast. Try sticking to the shallow and calmer ends of the ocean though. The deeper ends in some of the diving spots have strong currents and those are only for the experienced divers. There are also a lot of wrecks to be explored; mostly small ones yet interesting. So, when you are in Monaco, head out to the diving schools who will guide you to the right diving spots.
Scuba Diving In Monaco
Here are the top spots for scuba diving in Monaco that you should check out if you are going on a vacation:
1. Cap Ferrat
It is the most popular diving spot and is the closest to the Principality. If you are a beginner, this is a great place to start. The marine life here is in abundance here and you will be amazed to discover sea creatures that you would not have heard of before. Lie down on the bed of the ocean and experience the calmness of the underwater world at Cap Ferrat.
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2. The Wreck of Toulonnais
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This is the most recent dive spot in Monaco. The wreck of the boat is fascinating, to say the least. Dive down into the deep waters and explore of what is left of the wreck of this boat. The tug boat, which adorned the port of Monaco, was moved down there mainly to create an artificial reef for the marine life down under. This has become a favoriteexplorationor diving for the tourists and locals who like the old and the ruins. The rusted tug boat provides for a peek into the history. Start with going around the tug boat and exploring the wheels and the nitty-gritty. Though it is rusted, you can easily make out the spokes on the steers and wash basin and everything else. Adding to that, are the beautiful creatures of the sea like congers and the octopus.
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3. La Gabiniere
Cote d’Azur is a province right across the tiny principality, and Port-Cros is an island on Cote d’Azur. La Gabiniere is an islet, just off this island and this is a great diving spot. There are three very popular dive spots on this islet again. The eastern side which has one of the most colourful and beautiful marine creatures that you will like the likes of congers and starfish. The southern side is abundant with fishes, be it the groupers or the barracudas, you will spot them in plenty here. The south-west part of this islet though can be explored only by the experienced ones as it is too deep in this part and the currents are quite strong too. La Gabiniere is considered one of the best dive spots ever.
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4. The Donator
Once you have seen the boat wreck of the Toulonnais, you got to see this ship wreck too. This was a cargo ship, which was built in Norway but brought to France when a French company purchased it way back in the 1930s. It then shifted hands when it was sold to an Algerian Company, wherein they used to ship wine between the two countries. It was unfortunate though, that due to an accident, where it struck a drifting mine and sunk near the island of Porquerolles, South of France. Now, it is one of the most sought-after shipwrecks in the region and divers from far and wide, dive in to explore what’s remaining of this cargo ship. Here too, the steer, the wheels and engines can be seen clearly. Explore the interiors – the cabins, the galleys, et all. The marine creatures have made this their home with the likes of congers and eels. It is not an easy dive though and if you are not experienced enough, have a guide with you. This place is a 15-minute boat ride from Port-Cros.
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5. La Pointe de la Croix
This dive spot is situated to the southeast of the Port-Cros island. It is also rich in marine life and has a number of marine creatures. You will see the usual groupers, eels, and the likes. But, the most fascinating part of this dive spot is the flora; to be specific – the seaweed. It is there everywhere and in abundance. You could just lie down on the soft water bed and look up at the surface of the ocean…isn’t that fun! They are ably supported by plenty of gorgonian fans, while you explore the deep ends of this dive spot. This place too, though, is pretty dangerous with its strong currents, so you need to be careful and a little help from the local divers will cause no harm; after all, safety is important too.
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6. Le Ramon
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This is the best place for diving if you are just learning it. it is just 22 m deep and is located off the harbor of Cavalaire of Cort d’Azur province. While you are at it, you could possibly explore the wrecks of a cargo steamer, which sunk in the early 1920s. It was considered one of the best of its kind with the best of the engineering and technical skills and one of the biggest ships in those times. A huge explosion and the ship sunk, till date, no one knows why this happened though.
Due to the explosion, combined with the fact that it remains in the shallow end of the water, there is nothing much to see. What you can see are the steel plates and burnt out metal pieces in bits and pieces, which still makes it fascinating. What makes it interesting for you though, is the fact, since the waters are shallow, the diving experience becomes all the more easier and you can explore the wrecks in ease.Scuba diving in Monaco and around it is a great experience where it offers you the best of both worlds – the shallow yet beautiful diving spots and the deep and challenging ends of the ocean. The wrecks – big and small make it a more memorable experience. After all, you are diving into the Mediterranean Sea. Now, how many can actually boast about that!
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Monaco scuba diving is fun and easy to do. There is a wealth of great dive sites just off the coast, with some interesting marine life and fauna to swim amongst. If you’re a little tired of all that glitz and glamour, a dive into the Med could be the perfect antidote on your next Europe trip! Disclaimer: TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer. Please Note: Any information published by TravelTriangle in any form of content is not intended to be a substitute for any kind of medical advice, and one must not take any action before consulting a professional medical expert of their own choice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scuba Diving In Monaco
Is it safe to visit Monaco amidst the ongoing pandemic?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to visit these places as the place has a relatively low number of cases. But don’t take our word for it: check up on the latest travel advisory, Covid-19 measures, and the number of cases before your departure. It is safer to undertake solo travel or with a small group of people to somewhere that is not overly crowded at the moment.
Is Monaco the smallest country in the world?
Monaco is the world’s second smallest county – right after the Vatican city. Situated in a total area of only 202 hectares – the population of the country is less than 40 thousand.
Is Monaco the richest country in the world?
Monaco is among the richest countries in the world. On GDP per capita scale Monaco may rank the highest. The country is a favourite destination among the riches of the world. Country is home to many millionaires.
What makes Monaco so famous?
Monaco is famous for its incredible beauty and its opulence. This is an exotic location for tourists and one of the most popular destinations for Casino lovers in Europe.
Which language is spoken in Monaco?
Monaco’s official language is French. Although most of the people here are comfortable with English but at few locations, you may face a little challenge. Menus in most of the restaurants here are also available in English – so that won’t be a problem.
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Anjana is a writer, journalist, and a full-time wallflower. She holds a Master’s degree in Media and Mass Communication and firmly believes that travel blogging is nothing less than art. Combining her love for writing with her passion for globetrotting, she brings to you some amazing tips on traveling perfectly, be it any season of the year! In her spare time, she loves reading, listening to obscure indie bands, and writing poetry – all of this while being a crazy dog lady.
