Diving Le Sec de la Baleine

Site Overview

Le Sec de la Baleine is a pinnacle and reef dive site in Languedoc-Roussillon, France, reached from the base town of Banyuls-sur-Mer. Le Sec de la Baleine is a granite pinnacle in the Cerbère-Banyuls reserve rising to a 10 m summit, drawing barracuda and amberjacks. Groupers and gorgonians hold on the rock while the blue fills with schooling fish. The site reaches a maximum depth of 32 m with an average profile around 20 m and a shallow start near 10 m, which places it firmly in the intermediate category and means divers should hold at least an Open Water certification. Conditions are typical of the French coastal coast: visibility generally runs from 10 to 24 metres, the current is mild, and the water temperature ranges between 14 and 25 degrees Celsius with low surge exposure. The marine community is centred on Common Barracuda, Dusky Grouper, Amberjack, Mediterranean Moray, Two-banded Seabream, Red Gorgonian, and the full species list is detailed below for divers planning a trip. Le Sec de la Baleine is a strong representative of why Languedoc-Roussillon 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 Languedoc-Roussillon 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.