Saint-Raphaël, a Must-Visit Scuba Diving Destination
With 34 kilometres of coastline, Saint-Raphaël offers a succession of rocky headlands, coves and calanques stretching from the town centre to Le Dramont, Agay, Anthéor and Le Trayas.
Below the surface, the landscape changes completely. Rocks, underwater reefs, drop-offs, crevices and sandy areas create a variety of habitats where numerous Mediterranean species thrive.
During your dives, you may spot damselfish, seabream, salema, wrasse, scorpionfish, moray eels, conger eels and groupers, as well as many species living on the rocky walls.
The Saint-Raphaël coastline also has a long history linked to underwater exploration. As early as the 1930s, pioneers began experimenting with new diving equipment and exploring a marine environment that was still largely unknown.
Today, scuba diving here is as much about admiring spectacular natural scenery as it is about discovering a particularly rich maritime and historical heritage.
Looking for more ways to enjoy the Mediterranean? Discover water activities to experience on the French Riviera.
Try Scuba Diving for the First Time in Saint-Raphaël
Never breathed underwater before? An introductory scuba dive is the ideal way to experience diving for the first time.
Accompanied by a qualified professional, you will gradually discover the equipment, essential safety rules and unique sensations of scuba diving before heading underwater to explore the seabed.
Depending on the experience you choose, your session may include a welcome, briefing, equipment, transport to the dive site and the dive itself.
Some activities available on Expérience Côte d’Azur are suitable for children aged 8, subject to each operator’s individual requirements.
An introductory dive allows you to discover scuba diving without any prior certification or qualification.
The Best Scuba Diving Spots in Saint-Raphaël
Drop-offs, rocky formations, military shipwrecks and ancient archaeological remains: the dive sites around Saint-Raphaël offer a wide variety of underwater experiences.
The choice of dive site will always depend on the diver’s level, weather conditions, currents and the depth of the site.
Le Lion de Mer
Type of dive: Drop-off, arch and crevices
Depth: 8 to 40 m
Highlight: Several routes suitable for different levels
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Minimum level: Level 1
One of Saint-Raphaël’s must-see dive sites. Its shallower sections are accessible to less experienced divers, while the drop-off descending to around 40 metres offers a more technical dive.
BYMS 22
Type of dive: Shipwreck
Depth: Around 40 to 41 m
Highlight: Second World War wreck
Difficulty: Difficult
Minimum level: Qualification allowing dives to 40 m
This minesweeper lies upside down on the seabed in the Bay of Saint-Raphaël. It is a deep-water dive intended for experienced divers.
Le Sec des Suisses
Type of dive: Underwater reef, crevices and drop-offs
Depth: 15 to 38 m
Highlight: Routes can be adapted to different depths
Difficulty: Moderate
Minimum level: Level 1 depending on the route
The dive takes you around a large rocky formation, past schools of damselfish, crevices inhabited by moray eels and deeper underwater areas.
Les Pyramides du Dramont
Type of dive: Series of rocky formations
Depth: 1 to 40 m
Highlight: Large and varied dive site
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Minimum level: Level 1
A succession of rocky peaks separated by sandy corridors. In the deeper sections, divers can notably admire beautiful gorgonian corals.
Le Village du Dramont
Type of dive: Arch, rocks and submerged structures
Depth: Up to approximately 25 m
Highlight: Underwater film sets
Difficulty: Easy
Minimum level: Level 1
An unusual dive site where you can discover former submerged film sets, a large natural arch and several small crevices now colonised by marine life.
La Balise de la Chrétienne
Type of dive: Underwater reef, drop-off and archaeological remains
Depth: 11 to 34 m
Highlight: Amphorae and ancient heritage
Difficulty: Easy to moderate depending on depth
Minimum level: Level 1 depending on the route
A dive site combining rocky scenery and maritime history, with fragments of ancient amphorae visible at a depth of around 20 metres.
Introductory Dive, Training, or Exploration: Which Scuba Diving Experience Should You Choose?
Your choice will mainly depend on your previous diving experience.
For your first scuba dive
Choose an introductory scuba dive. A professional instructor will accompany you throughout your first underwater experience, and no previous certification is required.
To improve your diving skills
If your first experience leaves you wanting more, a range of training courses and scuba diving programs allow you to gradually develop your skills and become more independent underwater.
For certified divers
Divers who already hold a qualification can opt for an exploration dive.
Drop-offs, underwater reefs, arches, and shipwrecks offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy diverse diving experiences, depending on your level and the conditions on the day.
Can You Go Scuba Diving All Year Round in Saint-Raphaël?
Scuba diving is possible at different times of the year in Saint-Raphaël whenever weather and sea conditions allow.
However, the temperature of the Mediterranean varies significantly depending on the season:
In winter: around 13°C
In spring and autumn: approximately 15 to 19°C
In summer: approximately 21 to 27°C
Even in summer, several days of Mistral winds can cause the water temperature to drop rapidly.
Diving professionals therefore select the sites and organise outings according to the conditions on the day, the weather, participants’ experience levels and sea conditions.
Book Your Scuba Diving Experience in Saint-Raphaël and the Var
Breathing underwater for the first time, watching a school of fish circle a rocky drop-off, approaching a shipwreck or exploring the underwater rock formations of the Estérel: every dive offers a new way to experience the Mediterranean.
Whether you are looking for an introductory scuba dive in Saint-Raphaël, a training course to improve your skills or an outing for certified divers, discover the experiences offered by our partners on Expérience Côte d’Azur.
Choose your activity, book online and get ready for your next underwater adventure on the French Riviera.
Where can you go scuba diving in Saint-Raphaël?
There are numerous dive sites along the coast around Saint-Raphaël, Le Dramont, Agay and Anthéor. Le Lion de Mer, Les Pyramides du Dramont, La Chrétienne and several shipwrecks are among the area’s best-known diving spots. The right site will depend on the diver’s experience and the conditions on the day.
Can beginners try scuba diving in Saint-Raphaël?
Yes. Several professional diving operators offer introductory dives, allowing beginners to experience scuba diving accompanied by an instructor.
What is the minimum age for an introductory scuba dive?
The minimum age is 8 years old.
Do you need previous diving experience for an introductory dive?
No. An introductory dive is specifically designed to allow you to discover scuba diving without any previous experience.
Do you need to know how to swim for an introductory scuba dive?
It is recommended that you know how to swim and feel comfortable in the water.
How long does an introductory scuba dive last?
The duration varies depending on the activity you choose. It is important to distinguish between the actual time spent underwater and the overall duration of the experience, which may include the welcome, equipment fitting, briefing and journey to the dive site.
The underwater dive itself lasts approximately 20 minutes.
What equipment do you need to bring?
The technical diving equipment required is generally provided as part of an introductory dive or organised diving trip. However, we recommend checking exactly what is included in the activity you book.
Can you go scuba diving as a family in Saint-Raphaël?
Yes, provided you choose activities that are suitable for the age and experience level of each participant. An introductory scuba dive can be a great first underwater experience to share during a family holiday.
When is the best time to go scuba diving in Saint-Raphaël?
Each season offers different conditions. Summer generally brings the warmest sea temperatures, while spring and autumn can be attractive times to dive with different levels of visitor numbers.
Which dive site should you choose at Le Dramont?
Les Pyramides du Dramont offers a natural underwater landscape made up of rocky formations and sandy areas. Le Village du Dramont, meanwhile, provides a more unusual diving experience around former submerged film sets.
Where can you book a scuba diving experience in Saint-Raphaël?
The different experiences can be viewed directly on Expérience Côte d’Azur, the French Riviera activity booking website.
What can you do in Saint-Raphaël after a scuba dive?
Continue exploring the coastline with a kayaking trip, paddleboarding, a boat trip, or simply relax on the beaches and in the coves of Le Dramont, Agay, and Anthéor.
