France



GENERAL INFO


General

good both for beginners and experienced divers

France is a paradise for divers with three unique, different coasts, numerous islands and beautiful underwater scenery. What’s more, one can say that France is the birthplace of diving schools because the first diving centre was founded in this country in the 1930s.


Underwater
Corsica is especially renowned for the teeming marine life such as breams, cuttlefish, groupers, langoustes, moray eels, octopi, starfish, and tube worms.


Suit

Divers usually choose 5mm wet suits in summer and dry suits in winter.


Risk

There are a few sea animals which can have vicious or poisonous bristles and spines. Watch out for the scorpion fish, bristleworms, sea urchins and the stingray. If you step on or touch one of these fish, look for medical attention as your reaction to the injury will depend on your general medical condition and age.


Visibility

Northern France: 5–20 metres
Southern France: 20 metres
Corsica: 30–35 metres


Bottom

rocky or sandy
caves, cliffs


Best time to dive

June – September


Courses

Besides recreational diving for beginners, it is possible to take a PADI course (Proffessional Association of Diving Instructors), BSAC course (British Sub Aqua Club) or DSAT course (Diving Science and Technology).


PADI courses:
Open Water Diver
Adventure Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver
Rescue Diver
Master Scuba Diver
Divemaster
Nitrox
Specialities: Deep Diving, Night Diving, Wreck Diving, Underwater Navigation, Underwater Photography, Peek Performance Buoyancy


BSAC courses:
Ocean Diver – basic skills, non-decompression diving
Sports Diver – rescue and decompression diving
Dive Leader – dive leading, marshalling and rescue management
BSAC Nitrox Course
BSAC Full Instructor Course
BSAC IFC – Instructor Foundation Course
BSAC OWIC – Open Water Instructor Course


DSAT courses:
Nitrox Diver – qualifying recreational divers to use nitrox (enriched air) for no stop recreational diving
Deep Diver – introduction to deep diving
Tec Deep Level 1 – extended decompression diving
Tec Deep – technical deep diving, extended no decompression dives, decompression stop dives
Tec Trimix – qualifying divers to go to 75 m
Gas Blender
Trimix Gas Blender


SSI courses:
- Scuba update
- (Junior) Open Water Diver
- Specialities: Nitrox Diver, Deep Diving, Stress & Rescue, night diving, underwater navigation, underwater photography, boat diving, Dry suit, Wreck diving
- Advanced Diver (4 Specialities)
- Master Diver
- Dive Control Specialist
- CPR & First Aid


More info: DIVING COURSES


Prices

about 350 euro/initial open water course
about 25 euro/1 dive


Minimum age

The legal age for diving in France is 8 for and 14 for the first certificate. For all divers under age of 18 written parental/guardian consent will be required.


Regulations

Diving in France requires a current diving licence or civil liability insuring scuba diving. Divers under 18 will also need a parental authority.


Unaccompanied divers

Divers who intend to dive without any guide or instructor in France will need to be CMAS 2 stars (BSAC Sports Diver/Dive Leader or PADI Advanced Open Water Diver/Rescue Diver) which allows to unaccompanied diving to a depth of 20 metres. CMAS 3 stars (BSAC Advanced Diver) allows to unaccompanied diving to 60 metres.


Children

Depending on the diving centre the minimum age of a child attending a diving course is 8, 10 or 12.


Snorkelling

Snorkelling can be an alternative to scuba diving as it is really enjoyable, cheap and there is no age limit. Even in the first few metres below the surface experiencing the underwater environment can be extremely exciting. Clean and blue Atlantic or Mediterranean waters invite to an adventure of meeting a variety of fish and other underwater creatures. One can try it independently or choose one of many snorkeling excursions offers with professional guides. There are also skin diving courses for those who are interested in equipment, techniques and safety.