François Victor, deputy director of the Port-Cros National Park, responds to the invitation from Nicolas Barraqué, editorial director of the magazine « Plongez! ».
A National Park is an exceptional territory open to all but under everyone’s responsibility. It is protected by specific regulations regarding traffic, anchoring, diving, and recreational fishing around the islands of Port-Cros and Porquerolles, which have the status of « national park core areas ».
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Each individual diver or each diving establishment must, each year, sign the regulations at the Park House before undertaking their first dive in the marine cores of the Port-Cros National Park.
This document governs scuba diving in the waters of the park.
The regulations set a limit of 40 divers simultaneously per site and prescribe respectful behaviors towards habitats and species.
It specifically requires not to feed the fish, not to turn over rocks, not to come into contact with the substrate or animal or plant species.
Night diving is regulated because the intensive use of underwater lighting disturbs the tranquility of the fish.
Authorization can be obtained directly at the national park houses on the islands of Port-Cros and Porquerolles. This authorization is free, unique for both islands, and is valid for the current calendar year. It commits each diver to comply fully with the diving regulations.
This document governs scuba diving in the waters of the park.
The regulations set a limit of 40 divers simultaneously per site and prescribe respectful behaviors towards habitats and species.
It specifically requires not to feed the fish, not to turn over rocks, not to come into contact with the substrate or animal or plant species.
Night diving is regulated because the intensive use of underwater lighting disturbs the tranquility of the fish.
Authorization can be obtained directly at the national park houses on the islands of Port-Cros and Porquerolles. This authorization is free, unique for both islands, and is valid for the current calendar year. It commits each diver to comply fully with the diving regulations.
Attention, this year the most frequented sites in the marine core of Port-Cros are subject to new rules requiring a person to remain on board between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM during the dive… make sure to reread these regulations before signing!
For boats, the two marking plans (for Port-Cros et Porquerolles) illustrate the regulatory provisions enacted by decrees for maritime activities around the two islands. They concern traffic, la speed and anchoring.