You loved the topic on the 10 must-see wrecks of the French coasts, but most of these dives required a minimum of N2 to enjoy. To avoid jealousy and to allow all divers to find their happiness, we present 10 wrecks accessible from N1.

1. Northern Brittany: the Taboga

History: the Panamanian cargo ship Taboga leaves Brest on April 14, 1953, after loading coal. The strong currents caused by the tide drift it onto the rock. The lost ship is evacuated, and at high tide, it hits the rock and sinks south of Corsen Point, in the town of Plouarzel.The site: the wreck is located on a sandy and kelp bed. Imposing, the two boilers are still standing; winches can be seen on the deck. At the rear, the propeller has no more blades, and the machines have collapsed on the floor amid the kelp. The attached fauna is very colorful (jewel anemones), and wrasses as well as numerous crustaceans find refuge in every nook of the cargo.

Practical : depth between 10 and 18 meters – size of the wreck: 82 meters – visibility: about 10 meters – difficulty: watch out for the current – boarding location: Brest and surroundings.

2. Southern Brittany: the Philippe Eric

History: we know very little about the history of this French trawler: it burned and sank off Belle-Île in 1983.The site: the wreck lays on its port side, and parts of the engine and steering gear are scattered about ten meters from the site. Although the wreck is damaged, it delights all divers due to the fauna that gathers around, notably impressive schools of pouting. The Philippe Eric is also nicknamed the HLM for conger eels, with dozens finding refuge there.

Practical : depth 20 meters – size of the wreck 18 meters – visibility: rather limited – boarding location: Belle-Île.

3. Roussillon: the Pythéas

History: coming from Marseille, this steamship headed to Port-Vendres in 1897. A thick fog forms as it approaches the port, the ship hits the rock, then sinks. The crew escaped unharmed from the shipwreck.The site: of the ship, some parts remain, including a large intact boiler standing upright on the ground. The stern is lying on the port side, and a large anchor is found among the rocks. The structure is colonized by white gorgonians, as well as by nudibranchs and octopuses trying to hide there.

Practical : depth: between 5 and 18 meters – visibility: between 5 and 10 meters – boarding locations: Port-Vendres, Argelès-sur-Mer and surroundings.

4. Marseille: the Frioul amphorae

History: in 2010, an artificial amphora field was recreated at the semaphore of Pomègues in Frioul. These amphorae originally came from the Grand Congloué excavations conducted by Commander Cousteau and his team in the 1950s.The site: around 250 amphorae are arranged on a sandy and posidonia-covered bottom. Slowly colonized by timid flora, octopuses and damselfish can be found all around.

Practical : depth: 14 meters – visibility: good – boarding location: Marseille.

Also in Marseille, the wreck of the Chaouen – partially accessible to level 1 divers – is featured in our article on 10 must-see wrecks of France

5. Var: the cement barge

History: the history of this concrete barge is unknown, although there are some suppositions. The boat has neither propeller, machinery, nor superstructures, suggesting it might have been emptied before being scuttled. Concrete ages very well underwater, making it hard to date.The site: the reinforced concrete boat lies on a rocky and posidonia-covered bottom between Hyères and Porquerolles. The front is destroyed, but the rear of the boat is rather well preserved. The large interior compartments that communicate with each other can be seen, and the wreck is frequented by many fish: a grouper occupies the site, and we also come across rainbow wrasse, damselfish, nudibranchs, or squids.

Practical : depth: between 3 and 15 meters – size of the wreck: 25 meters – visibility: good – difficulties: be careful with metal pieces rising from the bottom – boarding location: Hyères, Porquerolles and surroundings.

6. Var: the Tell

History: this large liner seemed indestructible and yet… it experienced multiple sea accidents, ran aground several times, and even had a collision. On October 25, 1913, its last shipwreck occurred off Saint-Tropez: strong winds and currents pushed the ship near Cap Camarat, where it quickly sank, but still allowed the crew to leave the ship.The site: the remains of the boat are scattered around a rocky spur peaking 3 meters from the surface (almost certainly the cause of the shipwreck). The site is dotted with rocks, posidonia, amphorae, crockery, many cement bags, and sheets of metal that are quite hard to identify. The boiler and the rear with the propeller that pierced the hull can be seen. Divers encounter many rainbow wrasse, moray eels, congers… on the wreck.

Practical : depth: between 6 and 12 meters – visibility: good – difficulties: currents can be strong – boarding locations: Ramatuelle, Cap Camarat, Roche Fouras, Sainte-Maxime.

7. Corsica: the Pacorella cement ship

History: on November 30, 1965, the cement ship Pinella hits a reef near Porto-Vecchio and quickly sinks. This small cargo was making a journey from Elba towards Sardinia when it hit the islet of Pacorella – which gave it its nickname.The site: the boat is in good condition, the gangways are accessible, and the wreck stands upright on a posidonia-covered bottom. The split in the bow that sent the boat to the bottom can be seen. Encrusting sponges have colonized the wreck, visited by schools of saupe, corb, scorpionfish, or rascasses. Congers find refuge in the metal’s cracks.

Practical : depth: between 6 and 11 meters – size of the wreck: 45 meters – visibility: quite good – boarding location: Porto-Vecchio and surroundings.

8. Corsica: the P47 Miomo aircraft

History: nothing is certain about the history of this World War II aircraft. The canopy is open, suggesting that the pilot might have had time to exit before the plane sank.The site: the wreck is almost in one piece, located 300 meters off the shore, it is very easily accessible. The engine, which detached during the crash, lies on the sandy bottom right next to the nose of the aircraft. Sponges cover part of the fuselage. Around, schools of apogon, damselfish, saupe, and comber can be observed.

Practical : depth 18 meters – visibility: good – boarding locations: Sisco, Bastia.

9. Guadeloupe: the Franjack

History: this large sand dredger cargo from Europe spent a few years in the Caribbean. In 1989, it suffered severe damage caused by Hurricane Hugo. Abandoned, it was finally scuttled on June 9, 1996, off Malendure, in the Cousteau reserve.The site: the boat stands upright on its keel on a sandy bottom. The top of the mast rises to 12 meters from the surface, and the engine room and the wheelhouse are accessible. The wreck, in good condition, is a true aquarium: on the hull and deck, one finds multicolored sponges and anemones, while moray eels, shrimps, jacks, porcupinefish, and wrasse have made it their favorite habitat. Turtles can also be spotted nearby.

Practical : depth: between 12 and 24 meters – size of the wreck: 50 meters – visibility: excellent – boarding locations: clubs of the Cousteau reserve.

10. Saint-Martin: the tugboat

History: we know little about this tugboat wreck, except that it is believed to have been deliberately sunk off Tintamarre Island, north of Saint-Martin.The site: well preserved, the tugboat lies flat on a sandy bottom. The wreck is quite small, but the fauna around is impressive, and immense schools of fish swim through the boat. Snappers, porcupinefish, sergeant majors… It is possible to spot stingrays, turtles, or leopard rays nearby.

Practical : depth: 15 meters – size of the wreck: 18 meters – visibility: excellent – boarding locations: from Tintamarre or the north of Saint-Martin.

Margot Harty

10 Wrecks in France Accessible from Level 1