Corsica — Calvi & the Revellata, the area around Sec du Charbonnier

Corsica · France · Pinnacle

Sec du Charbonnier

A rocky peak at 15–40 m with dentex, grouper and schooling barracuda

Area photo: Arnaud Abadie · CC BY 3.0

The Sec du Charbonnier is an underwater rocky peak in the Bay of Calvi, popular for its rock formations and the biodiversity on them. It is dived between 15 and 40 m and rated for intermediate and experienced divers alike, which makes it one of the more flexible of the bay's secs: the depth is there if the group wants it, and the peak works shallower if not.

Also known as Le sec du charbonnier.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Sec du Charbonnier: typical dive 15–40 m (50–130 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit15 m40 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 50 m (164 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

42.5997° N, 8.7986° EPublished position for this site.

The dive

A sec is an underwater rocky peak, and the Charbonnier is one of the Bay of Calvi's popular ones, dived for its rock formations and its biodiversity. Dives run between 15 and 40 m, and how deep depends on the group, since the site is rated for intermediate and experienced divers alike. You work around and down the peak rather than following a single wall.

The water here is described as clear, which matters, because the fish are as often off the rock as on it: schools of barracuda and dentex out in the blue, grouper on the structure itself. Colourful gorgonians and coral cover the rock, so the close-up interest holds even when the fish are elsewhere. Take the deep part of the peak first and finish on the shallower rock at the top of it.

Marine life and season

  • Groupers
  • Barracuda
Month-by-month season rating for Sec du Charbonnier
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Off-seasonOff-seasonOff-seasonFairGoodPrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodFairOff-season

Season follows Corsica: Corsica's dive season runs roughly May to October; July and August are the peak tourist months, so June and September give the same sites with fewer boats.

Sources

  1. Le sec du charbonnier - Scubago — Scubago

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