Dive spots
A mountain in the sea is how Corsica is usually described.
With an average water temperature of 14° in winter and rising to 25-26° during the hottest months of July and August, and benefiting from several maritime influences from the four corners of the Mediterranean, Corsica is a paradise for both novice and experienced divers. The bottom of Calvi is a maze of rocky valleys, scree slopes, dizzying drop offs, canyons and faults, colonized by a grandiose Mediterranean fauna and flora: groupers, liches, schools of barracudas but also sponges, gorgonians, flower anemones and so on.
The B17, the flying fortress at the foot of the Genoese fortress
In constant loss of altitude, the pilots decided to ditch the plane near the city, which would save the rest of the crew. It sank slowly at the foot of the ramparts of the citadel of Calvi and was deposited at a depth of 28 meters on February 14, 1944. The wreckage is in a remarkable state with the wings still attached to the fuselage despite the violence of the shock, as well as the 4 engines and the cockpit unharmed with the pilots seats and its flight controls. The tail is gone and some propellers have their blades cut. The silhouette can be seen as soon as it arrives at a depth of 20m, from where the imposing hull with its 32m wingspan stands out against the sandy bottom. Little life has colonized the wreck to date, although we can see the usual Mediterranean fauna such as castagnoles, wrasse, serrans, and sometimes a lobster, a capon, a moray eel... and beautiful encrusting sponges coloring the plate.
Anchoring is nowadays forbidden, and diving boats are the only ones authorized to do so. They have to moor to the floating anchors in order not to damage the wreck, whose cockpit has recently been torn off by a malicious anchor. Not very sporty, this is a dive into history for those who love wrecks and their somewhat mystical atmosphere. Each club in Calvi offers at least one trip per day to this site.
Scientists and military Marines of the U.S. Army combined their efforts in the fall of 2012 and sent a ship of their army, the USS Grapple in order to probe the bay of Calvi and hope to locate the tail of the aircraft, where the last gunner Tony Duca, who sank that day of the tragedy with the wreckage, was visibly located ... In vain... A commemorative plaque was placed by the American ambassador on top of the ramparts of the Citadel for his fallen soldiers and the search was definitely abandoned.
The tip of Revelatta, the surroundings of the Reserve
The wild creeks of the Revelatta
The point St François, the underwater pilgrimage
For the more experienced : Le Sec du Clocher
Fins, masks and snorkels
The beach of Matahari and its underwater path
The association I Sbuleca Mare gives appointment to the curious and guides us in the crystalline waters of the bay of Calvi accompanied only by a wetsuit, fins, mask and snorkel. For a few euros, follow a state-qualified guide for about 45 minutes for a fun and educational walk for children (from 8 years old) and adults. Meeting point at the Matahari parking lot in Lumio, equipment provided.
The Hippocampe diving club of Calvi also offers snorkeling trips on board their diving boats. The supervisors provide a booklet to identify the different species that we meet to make an educational outing against a vacation background.
Possibility of learning to dive by starting with a baptism or for the confirmed divers, combine the playful side with the discovery and rent an underwater scooter to feel like a real fish in the water.
The Diving Corsica center at the SantAmbroggio marina provides you with a boat and a pilot who will take you to sites suitable for snorkeling according to your level and your interest for a duration of 2 hours.
Dive news
For more information on the wrecks lying on the Corsican coast, Stéphane Le Gallais and his team of divers have been photographing them for years and regularly publish beautiful books listing them.
The steamship Balkan, belonging to the Fraissinet shipping company (operating between Marseille and Calvi) with more than 500 passengers on board was torpedoed on August 16, 1918 by a German submarine while it was off Calvi, its final destination being Bastia. Only a hundred or so survivors managed to reach the Calvese coast. A commemorative plaque pays homage to them at the exit of Calvi, in the direction of Ajaccio by the coast at what is called La Croix des Balkans. The descendants of some of the passengers still live in Calvi.
As you can see, Calvi and the Balagne region are full of underwater wonders to be explored either in a tank or by staying on the surface. Each diving club in Calvi offers first time divers, the famous baptisms, but also training courses for the initiated with the passage of levels. A level 1 of the FFESSM (French Federation of Underwater Studies and Sports) takes only 4 days and 5 dives (theory + sea outings + logbook and license) and allows the novice from 14 years old to equip himself, to immerse, to balance and to evolve up to 20m of depth in full safety while learning the bases of diving. Ideal to initiate and occupy actively the week of vacations of a teenager!
And above all, dont hesitate to come to the reception, they will show you the most beautiful snorkeling spots and the beautiful beaches around the Domaine to enjoy the sea and the sun.
© Crédit photos : Sylvain Bes et Stéphane Le Gallais