Located in Banyuls-sur-Mer at the level of the only exclusively marine nature reserve, the center Plongée Bleue received, for the second consecutive year, the Eco-Responsible Centre trophy during the 18th Diving Show in January 2016 in Paris. Its manager, Julien Lebot, notably decided with his team not to use antifouling (a toxic biocide) on his boat’s hull. Besides this action, Plongée Bleue was also awarded by Longitude 181 Nature and Tribloo for another eco-responsible initiative: organizing a participatory clean-up during each dive. “ We provide all divers with a mesh bag to collect debris found during their dive, which is then sorted ,” explains Julien who, with his wife Delphine, has made this operation permanent from mid-June to mid-August. Given to divers during the briefing, these bags are not to distract from the pleasure and passion of diving in the marine reserve of Cerbère-Banyuls.
“ The surface area of the reserve is not very large, but there is a great concentration of fish ,” says Julien. Composed of faults, arches, and caves, the natural architecture hosts an ecosystem rich in animal and plant life. Among the rocks covered with many white gorgonians and yellow encrusting anemones, divers encounter many groupers, large drum seabrim, sea bass, barracudas, large lobsters… At the beginning of the season, late June-early July, it is possible to observe sunfish.
Wreck enthusiasts are not forgotten: a short fifteen-minute boat ride towards Cape Béar’s tip, four wrecks await experienced divers: these freighters sunk during the Second World War (the Saumur, the Astrée, the Saint Lucien, and the Alice-Robert) are located in the 45-meter deep zone.
Note: Plongée Bleue is also a partner center of Sea Shepherd : in summer, the NGO has a stand every weekend in the club and interacts with divers.In practice
Best time to visit : from April to November.Water temperature : from 13°C in winter to 27°C in August, wetsuit from 3 to 7 mm or even semi-dry in winterMinimum required level : from beginner to advanced. Diving sites with a maximum of 25 meters in the reserve.Rates : starting from 26 € per dive.Contact
Address : Port de Plaisance, 10 Quai George Petit 66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer.Email : plongeebleue@orange.frTel. : +33 (0)6 78 16 67 51 or +33 (0)6 81 35 96 49