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By Johanna the 02/01/2024

Scuba diving at the heart of Corsican history

Top 5 of the most beautiful underwater wrecks

Epave du P47 Thunderbolt à Miomu @Dominique BARRAY Epave du P47 Thunderbolt à Miomu @Dominique BARRAY
For amateur and professional divers alike, Corsican waters are home to some fascinating treasures: shipwrecks. With over 1,000 kilometres of coastline, Corsica offers a wide variety of wrecks to explore, dating from different eras and offering unique experiences. Testimonies to a bygone era, they must be 'visited' with respect and under no circumstances should they be removed.

So, get your fins ready. Here are our top 5 of the most beautiful wrecks in Corsica.


The beauty of Corsica is a constant source of debate: whose beaches are the most beautiful, whose peaks the most majestic? But there is one point of consensus: most of the exceptional marine sites are to be found at the foot of the reserves. With its well-preserved seabed, Corsica is a favourite destination for beginners and more experienced divers alike. Numerous clubs offer real underwater adventures that allow you to discover vegetation that is as surprising as it is magnificent.

 

The best divers are unanimous : the Cerbicales islands, a protected natural area, the Lavezzi islands, the Finochiarola archipelago and Scandola are truly enchanting. Many passions and vocations have been born from a first scuba-diving experience in Corsican waters. In the heart of these exceptional classified sites, surrounded by cicadas and sea dates, you'll become true explorers and set out to conquer a coastline that's unique in the Mediterranean. Get in touch with the island's many diving clubs, whose instructors will help you discover undreamt-of nooks and crannies. And for those who want to try out new experiences, snorkelling awaits you. Suitable for shallow waters, snorkelling allows you to get close to reefs of all kinds and it will introduce you to marine biology.

 

Diving with tanks or simply with a mask and snorkel, you'll come across Mediterranean residents such as scorpion fish, mullet and sea bream. Tip: you must visit the "underwater trail", located on the Lavezzi archipelago in the heart of the Bouches de Bonifacio International Marine Park. Here you can get close to an underwater fauna and flora that is particularly rich in remarkable species (brown grouper, giant limpet, large mother-of-pearl, corb, etc.). The Corsican Environment Office offers free guided tours. So why not take the plunge?

 

For amateur divers, Corsica offers wrecks accessible at relatively shallow depths, often hidden in seagrass beds or resting on sandy bottoms. These wrecks offer beginners the opportunity to discover their first experience of underwater exploration, while admiring the beauty and history of these sunken remains. For professional divers, Corsica also has deeper wrecks, offering technical challenges and more in-depth exploration.

 

Beyond the aesthetics and excitement of exploration, it's important to remember that these wrecks bear witness to tragedies of the past. Visitors should respectfully avoid any damage or removal, and appreciate the unique opportunity to explore these historic relics.

 Whether you're an amateur or professional diver, Corsica's shipwrecks offer unforgettable underwater adventures, combining historical discovery, natural beauty and technical challenges.

Let's discover our top 5 of the most beautiful wrecks in Corsica

 

 

The B 17 at Calvi, Balagne

 

The B 17 was one of the most famous bombers of the Second World War. Today, it's the must-see wreck in Corsica... Located just opposite the Calvi citadel, 200 m from the shore, the wreck lies at a depth of -25 m, on light-coloured sand.

Epave du B17 - Calvi Corse ©Plongez ! Epave du B17 - Calvi Corse ©Plongez !

 

Depth: 25 to 27 m

Preservation: good

Visibility: excellent

Level: 2

 

Plan your holiday in  Balagne

 

The P 47 Thunderbolt at Miomu, Cap Corse

 

The Republic P 47 Thunderbolt was an American fighter plane from the Second World War. The wreck lies in good condition opposite the Miomu cemetery on Cap Corse, on a seagrass bed. The wreck is easy to access, even for beginners, as it lies at a depth of less than 20 metres. Today, P 47 is home to a wide variety of fish species.

 

Epave du P47 - Miomu Corse ©D Barray Epave du P47 - Miomu Corse ©D Barray

 

Depth : 18 m

Preservation : good

Visibility : good

Level :1

 

Plan your holiday in  Cap Corse

 

The B 25 at Aleria, Eastern Corsica

 

In very good condition, the wreck of the B 25 lies at a depth of around twenty metres, on a sandy seabed. Located near Aleria, the wreck of the twin-engine bomber still retains its rear turret with its two machine guns. The two engines are also well preserved. Sars, groupers and wild oysters have made this their home.

Epave du B25- Aleria Corse ©N Barraqué Epave du B25- Aleria Corse ©N Barraqué

 

Depth : 19 m

Preservation: good

Visibility : variable

Level : 1

 

Plan your holiday in  Corsica Orientale

 

The Insuma opposite the Tour de Losse, Cap Corse

 

The wreck of the Insuma lies at a depth of between 40 and 43 metres off the Genoese Tower of Losse between Pietracorbara and Porticciolo, on Cap Corse. The Insuma was attacked in September 1943 by Italian torpedo boats as it left the port of Bastia. The ship's hull is practically covered in shells and seaweed. If you're lucky, you'll come across stingrays, tuna and sunfish.

 

Epave de l'Insuma - Cap Corse ©N Barraqué Epave de l'Insuma - Cap Corse ©N Barraqué

Depth : 40 to 43 m

Preservation: bow and stern in good condition

Visibility : excellent

Level: 2 confirmed

 

Plan your holiday in  Cap Corse

 

The Alcyone C at Cervione, Castagniccia Casinca

 

Located 1 mile from the coast off the village of Cervione, the wreck of the Alcyone is in very good condition. Don't miss the huge holds that were once used to store oil.

Epave de l'Alcyone C - Cervione Corse ©D. Barray Epave de l'Alcyone C - Cervione Corse ©D. Barray

 

Depth :24 to 35 m

Preservaton: good

Visibility : good

Level: 2 confirmed

Plan your holiday in  Castagniccia Casinca 

 

 

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