The Frioul archipelago offers some remarkable scuba diving sites: Le Grand Salaman, Le Tiboulen, Cap Caveau, Les Amphores, Le Sec de Saint-Estève, accessible from level 1.
At the heart of Marseille's harbor, the Frioul archipelago comprises four islands: Pomègues, Ratonneau, If and Tiboulen du Ratonneau.
Exposed to wind, drought and sea spray, Frioul offers remarkable biodiversity, including a number of rare plant species and a refuge area for grey shearwaters.
The seabed, with its Posidonia and coralligenous meadows, offers a wide variety of attractive features for divers.
Spotlights include :
- Le grand Salaman: gently sloping drop-off, a large anchor, fish-filled site, clear water
> Level 2: 43 m
> West of Ratonneau. Sheltered from easterly winds
> Capons, anthias, lobsters, ceranthes
- Tiboulen de Frioul: fishy, gorgonian-covered drop-off, then plateau for night dives
> From level 1: 40 m
> North-western tip of Frioul. Sheltered from the easterly wind, but impassable in the mistral.
> Groupers, scorpion fish, peacock girelles, gorgonians
- Cap Caveaux: pottery from the plague period, sandy bottom, large scree, small tunnel
> From level 1: 10 - 40m
> South-western tip of Frioul. Sheltered from the mistral
> Soles, galinettes, Saint-Pierre
- Les Amphores du Frioul: Roman amphorae from the wreck of the Congloué
> Level 1: 14 m
> Southeast of Pomègues, under the semaphore. Sheltered from the mistral, but impossible with a westerly wind.
> Posidonia meadow fauna, octopus
- Le sec de Saint-Estève: a vast Posidonia meadow at the foot of a sec.
> South of Ratonneau. Easy access, sheltered from the mistral, a popular summer passage.
> Level 1: 4 - 14m
> Seagrass fauna, sars, saupe
