CORSICA

Corsica, named "Kalliste" (meaning the most magnificent) by the Ancient Greeks , is situated to the south of the French mainland. This Mediterranean island is a mountain in the sea: it's relief is very elevated (7 peaks at more than 2,000 meters) while it's dimensions are small (60 km wide and 160 km in length).

With a 1000 kilometers of coastline (equivalent to 1/3 of the French coastline), Corsica offers the most demanding divers very high quality diving conditions - diving sites are very close to the shores, the steep slopes of the mountains extending into the ocean. The underwater relief is a succession of cliffs, faults and a huge variety of caves.

There is very little pollution - no industrial waste and municipal waste waters are treated. The waters of Corsica are of exceptional quality with a visibility of 30 to 50 meters. Both the absence of tides in the Mediterranean sea and the sunshine are factors contributing to the clarity of the water. The water temperature generally ranges between 15 and 17 degrees Celsius in the Spring and can reach 30 degrees in September. This makes diving very comfortable.

The underwater flora is very abundant: prairies of posidonia, flamboyant sea fans, anemones, etc... The sea life is very varied: girella, scorpion fish, blennies, red-fish, bream, gobies, sea bass, rocking, boöps, seriola, gilt head, rays, gray mullet, sea-dog, calamar, muraena, eel, crabs, shrimp, lobster, crayfish, weaver, octopus and grouper (a protected species in Corsica).

Photo courtesy: Georges Antoni 

There are more than 60 diving clubs in Corsica. Several of them have formed an association named "PLONGÉES GRAND BLEU CORSE" which guarantees hospitality, safety and professionalism. They are operational from April to October.