The Gironde and Médoc coast sits on the Bay of Biscay, where the Atlantic drives cold water, tidal currents, and limited visibility across most sites. Wrecks are the primary draw: the Tarantini submarine, the SS Hollywood, Le Tirranna, and Le Remorqueur rest at various depths, from the shallow SS Hollywood to the deeper reefs off Le Verdon-sur-Mer. The Cordouan Lighthouse Plateau adds a rocky reef option for snorkellers and divers alike. Strong currents concentrate marine life, and the species list includes mako shark, leopard catshark, marbled electric ray, and common octopus. Most dives are by boat, and the season generally runs from spring through autumn.
Monthly water temperature across Gironde & Médoc's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures are cool in winter and rise to their warmest in mid-summer, making a thick wetsuit or drysuit advisable for most of the year. Currents are a consistent feature and dictate dive timing; slack water periods are the practical window for exploring deeper wrecks such as Le Tirranna and Le Remorqueur.
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Water temperature around Gironde & Médoc ranges from about 11°C in January to 20°C in August, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 20°C) a 5mm suit is comfortable in Gironde & Médoc; in the coldest months (about 11°C) step up to a drysuit.
Fin maps 5 sites in Gironde & Médoc (4 scuba diving sites and 1 snorkelling spots).
4 more sites to explore
