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Cavau

4.0 — based on 21 community signals
4.2 12 species 21 contributors

Cavau is a year-round dive site in France's Calanques National Park, with 12 species observations and 3 community videos documenting marine life.

⭐ Best for beginners.

🐢 MPA · Parc national des Calanques (a… updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
MPAShore entryFamily-friendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round

Top operators here

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Map

This spot Operators Airport Nearby spots
Cavau location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
9.8 kn
Wave
0.5 m
Water
21.9°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: WSW (18%)
Now: NNE (27°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.24m

Today: High 15:00 (-0.49m), Low 07:00 (-0.58m)

+-0.4 m-0.7 m
▼ 07:00 · -0.58m ▲ 15:00 · -0.49m ▼ 17:00 · -0.5m ▼ 23:00 · -0.59m Now -0.5m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV5.35 · mod Air PM2.53 · good 07:22 19:41
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 12.8 0.56 5 0mm
09-20 11.9 0.18 5 0mm
09-21 6.1 0.4 6 0mm
09-22 6.4 0.3 6 0mm
09-23 10.7 0.48 6 0mm
09-24 5.8 0.32 5 0mm
09-25 7.1 0.3 5 0mm

About this spot

Cavau sits within the Parc national des Calanques, a protected marine area in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. The site draws divers seeking access to one of France's most closely managed coastal ecosystems. Located at Cap Caveaux, the spot benefits from its designation within the national park's adhésion zone, which means stricter habitat protection and cleaner waters. The dive community has documented 12 distinct species observations at Cavau, giving divers a sense of what to expect below the surface. Three community videos provide real footage from the site, letting you scope conditions and marine life before booking. Specific depth, visibility, and water temperature data aren't widely published, so checking with local operators or recent trip reports is smart before arrival. Cavau works year-round, so timing is flexible. The Calanques region attracts divers who value pristine rocky reefs and the guarantee of a protected environment. Access and dive regulations fall under national park rules, so confirm current conditions and any permit or briefing requirements with local outfitters before descent.

📖 Guide: Diving in France: 220 Sites From Alpine Lakes to Tropical Reefs

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dive types

ReefShore

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type C/E/F · 230V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 48%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 1009km · ~232kg · €4

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Cavau?

Cavau is accessible year-round. Exact visibility and water-temperature peaks aren't documented in public sources, so ask local dive operators for seasonal conditions before booking a trip.

What depth and difficulty is Cavau?

Specific depth and difficulty ratings aren't published for Cavau. Contact local dive shops or check recent trip reports to get accurate information tailored to current conditions.

What marine life can I expect?

Twelve species observations have been documented at Cavau. Three community videos are available online showing real footage of marine life. Check those videos and local operator reports for the most current wildlife encounters.

Do I need permits or special access?

Cavau sits in the Parc national des Calanques adhésion zone, a protected marine area. You'll need to follow national park regulations. Confirm access rules, required briefings, and any permits with a local dive operator before your visit.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

UCPA Cap Croisette

6.9 km
Dive centre

Marseille Côté Mer Plongée (MCMP)

7.1 km
Dive centre

Atoll Plongée

7.4 km
Dive centre
Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-20:00

Centre UCPA - Niolon

8.6 km
Dive centre

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Scuba Diving - Cassis - France - GoPro Hero4 Black 4K UHD

The French Diver
💬 2 top comments
  • Is this the lighthouse far off in the sea?

    @smj460 · 👍 0
  • Simpa les vidéos 😉 je l abonné, va faire un tour sur ma chaîne si ça te dit

    @MisterLeau · 👍 0

Marseille diving pt.3

Camille Rebours - scubachingon
💬 1 top comments
  • Awesome video Bro 👌

    @myunderwaterspace2760 · 👍 0

Port Miou and Le Bestouan (Cassis, France)

Eric Gilli
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Jul (100/100) Worst: Mar (0/100) Now: Sep (95/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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