Go 'green' sea diving in the French Med
The French Riviera may not be the first place that springs to mind when planning a dive holiday but think again. Diamond Diving, located on the glamorous Cote D’Azur, is attracting divers of all abilities with its clear, warm waters and abundance of sea life.
Contrary to what many assume, this part of the Med is not ‘all fished out’ and has a thriving ecosystem, which can be enjoyed from late March through to November. Better still, holidaymakers can ditch the short haul flight, reduce their carbon footprint and travel down to the South of France on the Eurostar and TGV.
Protected by a number of government initiatives, the ecosystem in this part of the Med has seen a marked improvement over the past 15 years and certainly offers those with an ecological conscience a ‘greener’ option for diving. With Barracuda, Grouper and a whole array of spectacular sea life and wrecks, the South of France provides the best of both worlds; stunning diving, close to home.
Professor Patrice Francour, Director for Ecology of Marine and Ecosystems and Reponses to Stress, at Nice University explains:
“In the 1980s the French authorities launched an ambitious program of waste water treatment and scientific studies highlight a steady improvement of water quality, which for divers means less muddy water areas and more clear waters. The banning of spear fishing of Grouper has seen that population of fish increase from 3 to 7 times in the last 15 years.”
The Port-Cros National Park, created in 1963 covers 1288 hectares of sea area, around the island of Port-Cros, one of three islands (Levant and Porquerolles are the other two) near the Giens peninsula, Hyeres and Toulon. They are equally positive about the ecosystem in this area and state:
“A growing number of professional dive centres are bringing clients to dive and experience the magic offered by these protected areas. The dive sites are renowned as amongst the best in the Mediterranean. There are a number of measures that have been put in place to protect marine life including; conservation functions to retain or restore biodiversity through protection of species and habitats; management of human activity, particularly fishing, to enable populations of fish that are over exploited to reconstitute locally and education to encourage all users (including divers) to adopt responsible and respectful behaviour.”
They go on to explain that dive centres, clubs and independent divers wishing to dive in the Park must sign an agreement that outlines correct behaviours for dive boats and divers.
Diamond Diving is a UK, family run company with in-depth knowledge of the French diving system, French language and local points of interest. Dedicated to customer service and delivering bespoke itineraries, Diamond Diving can design a diving holiday to suit most requirements and budgets.
Alex Diamond, Managing Director explains:
“As a small, independent company, we ensure that each client is looked after from the beginning to the end of their holiday. From picking them up on arrival, taking them to handpicked accommodation, providing transfers to the dive centres and accompanying them aboard the dive boat, we aim to make each client’s holiday an enjoyable and memorable experience.”
Starting from as little as £199 for a three night, three dive weekend or £229 for a four night, five dive weekend (excluding air or train fares) Diamond Diving gives sound value for money. The company also offers a range of PADI courses, many of which can be included within a weekend, including developing skills such as photography and buoyancy which enhance environmental awareness and reduce diver impact.
For more information about destinations, dive options and prices visit Diamonddiving.net.