Diving La Gabinière | Port-Cros Wall

Site Overview

La Gabinière is a wall and reef dive site in French Riviera – Côte d’Azur, France, reached from the base town of Hyères. La Gabinière is the signature wall of Port-Cros National Park, plunging from 18 m to beyond 45 m and carpeted in red gorgonians. Huge groupers, barracuda and the occasional eagle ray patrol the blue, and the site is accessible only with an authorised park guide. The site reaches a maximum depth of 45 m with an average profile around 30 m and a shallow start near 18 m, which places it firmly in the advanced category and means divers should hold at least an Advanced Open Water certification. Conditions are typical of the French coastal coast: visibility generally runs from 20 to 40 metres, the current is moderate, and the water temperature ranges between 14 and 25 degrees Celsius with low surge exposure. The marine community is centred on Dusky Grouper, Common Barracuda, Spotted Eagle Ray, Amberjack, Mediterranean Moray, Red Gorgonian, and the full species list is detailed below for divers planning a trip. La Gabinière is a strong representative of why French Riviera – Côte d’Azur diving is so highly regarded, blending the geology, history and biodiversity that define French underwater exploration. It pairs naturally with the other sites of the French Riviera – Côte d’Azur region for a varied holiday, and with the right thermal protection and, where relevant, the correct specialist training, it offers a memorable dive for photographers, naturalists and wreck or reef enthusiasts alike.