Port-Cros & Îles d'Hyères · France · Pinnacle · Wall
Sec du Sarranier
Gorgonian drop-off from an 18 m rock head to 40 m
Area photo: Waielbi · CC BY-SA 3.0
A submerged rock in the channel between Porquerolles and Port-Cros, with its head at 18 m and an average depth of 40 m around it. The drop-off is lined with gorgonians and holds dozens of moray eels along with numbers of grouper and lobster, and the open water off the rock brings amberjack, sunfish and passing tuna.
Where it is and how deep
42.9957° N, 6.2987° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The site is a submerged rock in the channel between Porquerolles and Port-Cros, with nothing showing at the surface: the head of the rock comes up to 18 m and the ground around it averages 40 m. That sets the shape of the dive — down the structure to your planned depth first, then back up onto the head of the rock for the shallow end of the profile.
The drop-off is the feature, lined with gorgonians down the face. Dozens of moray eels can be seen along it, as well as many groupers and lobsters. The variety of species here is considerable and the water off the rock is worth watching: amberjack and sunfish are both reported, and it is not uncommon to meet pelagic fish or tuna passing the site. Finish shallow over the head at 18 m.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
- Tuna
- Mola mola
- Trevally & jacks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Port-Cros & Îles d'Hyères: Jun–Sep is the main season with the warmest water; mistral winds close the exposed wreck sites in any month.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Sec du Sarranier?+
The head of the rock is at 18 m and the ground around it averages 40 m, so the site is planned as a deep dive with the shallow finish on top of the rock.
What can you see at Sec du Sarranier?+
A gorgonian-lined drop-off with dozens of moray eels, many groupers and lobsters, and amberjack, sunfish and passing tuna in the water off the rock.
Sources
- Sec du Sarranier — Scubago
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