Skip to content
OpenWaterAtlas
Top view of unrecognizable person in wetsuit inspecting rough remains of sunken plane on bottom of sea
📷 Maël BALLAND · Pexels

Tombant de Chindrieu/Châtillon

3.9 — based on 16 community signals
4.2 12 species 27 contributors

Technical French alpine lake diving with year-round access and active species documentation from the local dive community.

⭐ Best for advanced divers.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Advanced
AdvancedOnlySeasonal

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
advanced

Map

This spot Airport Nearby spots
Tombant de Chindrieu/Châtillon location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
0.9 kn
Wave
m
Water
—°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: NNE (43%)
Now: NNW (333°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0m
+0.0 m0 m+0.0 m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV5.25 · mod Air PM2.55 · good 07:19 19:40
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 3.5 5 0mm
09-20 5.1 5 0mm
09-21 7.9 5 0mm
09-22 7.9 5 0mm
09-23 5.5 5 0mm
09-24 8.8 4 0mm
09-25 2.6 5 0mm

About this spot

Tombant de Chindrieu/Châtillon is a deep-water dive site in France that draws technical divers seeking alpine lake exploration. The site benefits from year-round diving conditions and sits outside marine protection zones, making it accessible for qualified divers. The location has attracted consistent community documentation, with 12 recorded species observations and 3 community videos available, indicating active local interest and ongoing data collection. This suggests the site offers reliable conditions and recognized dive value among experienced explorers. The lack of mass tourism markers and small but engaged community presence indicate a more intimate diving experience compared to heavily trafficked alternatives. Alpine lake diving here presents opportunities for technical progression and exposure to freshwater ecosystems distinct from tropical or coastal environments.

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

Dive types

Cave

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 · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 782km · ~180kg · €3

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Tombant de Chindrieu/Châtillon?

The site is diveable year-round, though specific seasonal conditions, water temperature, and visibility should be confirmed with local dive communities and operators familiar with current alpine lake conditions.

What difficulty level and depths should I expect?

Detailed depth and difficulty ratings are not documented in primary sources. Contact experienced divers in the area or local dive communities for current site specifications before planning your dive.

What marine life might I encounter?

The site has 12 recorded species observations. Community videos and local dive guides can provide detailed species lists and behavior information specific to the alpine lake environment.

Do I need permits or certifications to dive here?

The site is not within a marine protection area, but France may have local regulations for alpine lake diving. Verify requirements with regional authorities and confirm your technical certification level matches site conditions.

See it live now

Live webcams at this spot (within 500 m). Windy.com

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

1 records · 1 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Limax maximus

Gastropoda · Limacidae
GBIF
Last seen:
14 Jan 2026
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Tombant de chatillon Chindrieux lac du bourget site de plongée

Deep CCR Tartiflette Team

Tombant de Châtillon CHINDRIEUX Lac du bourget

Julien FONVERNE

plongee tombant chatillon chindrieux lac du bourget deep ccr tartiflette team

Deep CCR Tartiflette Team

Local knowledge

OpenStreetMap Notes
  • "Aménagement cyclable non repertorié Nouvelle voie verte (ouverture en mars 2026) Photo·s et/ou informations disponibles ici: https://amenagements-cyclables.fr/fr/contributions/113590 (This note has been created from Geovelo)"

    Geovelo_Notes · 2026-02-03
  • "Aménagement cyclable non repertorié Nouvelle voie verte (ouverture en mars 2026) Photo·s et/ou informations disponibles ici: https://amenagements-cyclables.fr/fr/contributions/113589 (This note has been created from Geovelo)"

    Geovelo_Notes · 2026-02-03

Nearby spots

Diving
🇫🇷 France

Pierre à Bise

Pierre à Bise is a year-round French dive site featuring the Tunnel de Brison, a notable underwater passage with recorded marine life.

Beginner Jan·Feb·Mar+
Tête de la vache France Diving
🇫🇷 France

Tête de la vache

Tête de la vache is a French dive site offering year-round access with 12 recorded species observations and community footage available.

Porche des Eaux Mortes France Diving
🇫🇷 France

Porche des Eaux Mortes

Porche des Eaux Mortes is a French dive site with seven recorded species observations and three community videos documenting its underwater life.

Similar spots

Same activity, shared marine species or similar profile.

Grotte de Bange (Entrée S) France Diving
🇫🇷 France

Grotte de Bange (Entrée S)

Grotte de Bange (Entrée S) is a cave dive in southern France accessible year-round. Explore the underwater cavern system with local guidance.

Advanced
Diving
🇫🇷 France

Grotte de la Passerelle

Cave dive in France's Chartreuse regional park. Year-round access in a protected canyon system.

Advanced
Exsurgence de Port-Miou France Diving
🇫🇷 France

Exsurgence de Port-Miou

Freshwater spring dive in France's Calanques National Park, protected core zone with year-round access and documented marine life.

Advanced
Diving
🇫🇷 France

Grotte de la Triperie

Grotte de la Triperie is a cave dive in France's Parc national des Calanques, accessible year-round with rich marine observation data.

Advanced Jan·Feb·Mar+

Suggest an operator

Know a great dive shop, kite school, or local guide at this spot? Tell us — we'll review and add it.

Up to 500 characters
Plan
View →