Scandola Nature Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage site on the west coast of Corsica, where red volcanic cliffs plunge below the surface and create an underwater landscape of reefs, walls, canyons, and caves. The six sites in the database span a wide depth range, from shallow snorkelling at Marine de Ficaghjola to the full depth of the Scandola site itself, where overhead environments demand advanced certification. Access is regulated to protect the reserve, and most sites require a boat. Visibility at reef sites consistently reaches thirty metres. The species list includes leopard catshark, common octopus, cuckoo wrasse, and nudibranch. Fifteen operators serve the area from Porto and surrounding towns.
Monthly water temperature across Scandola Nature Reserve's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures are at their lowest in late winter and climb through spring to peak in July and August, when a three-millimetre wetsuit is adequate. From October onwards temperatures drop gradually, and a five-millimetre suit becomes more appropriate; winter diving is possible but cooler.
22 operators
Water temperature around Scandola Nature Reserve ranges from about 14°C in January to 22°C in August, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 22°C) a 3mm full suit is comfortable in Scandola Nature Reserve; in the coldest months (about 14°C) step up to a 7mm or semi-dry suit.
Fin maps 6 sites in Scandola Nature Reserve (5 scuba diving sites and 1 snorkelling spots).
3 more sites to explore
Across Scandola Nature Reserve's dive sites, May, June and September are most often reported as the best months to visit.
