La Calanque Tiboulen Pending Verification

About this dive site

The Tiboulen de Maire or "the Turtle" is the ideal refuge for diving in a strong east wind. The Tiboulen cove is perfectly sheltered from this wind, and allows for easy anchoring, whatever the type of boat you have. The Tiboulen de Maire is not one of the most beautiful dives in Marseille, but its architecture remains interesting, and is ideal for a gentle readaptation or for beginners. The northern part of the cove is of little interest, and only reveals very small rocks with here and there small white gorgonians and green algae: nothing transcendent. The dive is actually carried out outside the cove, heading east. From the anchorage, join the rock and go along it on your left hand. Opposite the tip of the cove, you have on your right large scree over 18-20 m. Continue on the rock on your left hand and pass the tip. Here again you will find scree in a 10-20 m evolution zone. About fifty meters from the tip, you will see the entrance to a tunnel located at 6-8 m, and about 10-15 meters long. A few meters from the tunnel exit, a small cave is revealed to the light of your headlights. The return is done in the opposite direction, and the landings are made in the shelter of the rock in the cove.

In terms of flora, there are beautiful sponges and walls of encrusting yellow anemones. There are also fleshy or green anemones. In terms of fauna, many scorpionfish hide in the scree, along with an often significant number of octopuses. The tunnel contains numerous hiding places appreciated by small scalloped crabs, lobsters, and also conger eels. The small cave, much darker than its counterpart on Maire Island, has small strands of red coral.