The Garden of Mattes, La Londe-les-Maures (Var)
Posidonia, preserved since 1988, is a marine flowering plant whose roots mix with the sediment to form a barrier called “glow”. Equipped with handrails, the seven numbered buoys allow you to discover this vital ecosystem that stabilizes the sandy bottom and prevents beach erosion. At a depth of 0 to 4 meters there are also rocks, rocks and all their associated fauna: crustaceans, molluscs, starfish, fish.
Where? Argentière Beach Rocky Spur, La Londe-les-Maures
How In autonomy until the beginning of September.
As well as ? Tour, July and August, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:45. Duration 45 minutes, plan fins, mask and snorkel €8, adults €4 (8-12 years). Reservations and tickets. tourist office, 60, boulevard du Front de Mer, La Londe-les-Maures. Such. 04 94 01 53 10. Email: welcome@mpmtourisme.com. Guide to diving species (€8).
Domain of Rayol (Var)
Guided by Audrey, Sarah or Nicola, this path starts at a small sandy bottom, ideal for viewing butus, with two eyes on the left. There are shoals of cuttlefish and crab on the Posidonia seagrass, and nesting in the crevices are leopard and cat’s tongue sea cucumbers. The rocky bottoms are the ground area of the colorful peacock. At the beginning of July, membranous cranillabras form seaweed nests, at the end of July it is possible to see mini-barracudas (8 cm), and at the end of August, juvenile amberjacks.
Where? Fig Bay. Domaine du Rayol, avenue Jacques Chirac, Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer. Such. 04 98 04 44 03.
How Supervision by a state-certified guide-animator (maximum 8 people). From the age of 8. Duration: 2 hours including 45 minutes of water. €35, adult, €26 8-17 years old. Every day in July and August, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays in September. Equipment provided including wet suit.
As well as ? Entrance to the manor gardens is included in the price. Reservations required, discounted rate for all online reservations.
Two archaeological trails in Jerez (Var)
In addition to the classic Mediterranean fauna, these sites, to be discovered with guides, bear witness to the distant past, when the Romans dominated the coast of southern Gaul.
How Center Espace Mer. €30 per trail, full equipment provided. A group of maximum 12 people. A child from 8 years old, if he can swim. Duration 1h30.
Where?
- From Almanare beach, access to the Olbia trail, which includes the archaeological remains of a city founded by the Greeks and then occupied by the Romans in antiquity. A fragment of a 19th century tartan (sail).e s. is also visible.
- South of the Giens Peninsula, a unique trail of 150 amphorae from the Roman shipwreck of La Madrague, sunk near Giens in 100 BC. in the 70th year. They are buried 6 meters deep. And for 360° immersion: 360.adeo-web.fr/sentier-amphores/
Mugel Trail (Bouches-du-Rhone)
An unmarked trail in a sheltered, shallow river that an instructor helps you discover. He looks for different species there and adapts to the abilities of the swimmers he leads. The sea cucumber kingdom, Posidonia, also serves as a refuge for the young, which are sheltered there from predators and gastropods, who build their nest on the edge of the sand to avoid being swept away by the current. Consequently, many fish are seen on this herbarium and occasionally, with luck, a rare seahorse can show the end of its little head. On the sandy bottom, gobies are recognizable by their large round eyes. Starfish, sea urchins, octopi, and cuttlefish favor rocky bottoms.
Where? Calanque du Mugel, La Ciotat.
How Tour with CPIE Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. €28, adult, €25 (ages 6-14). Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Such. 04 42 08 07 67. The duration of the walk is 1h-1h30.
Cap d’Agde trail (Hérault)
In the heart of the Agathoise marine protected area, at the foot of the volcanic rocks, discovering small rocky and sandy bottoms in a few meters of water, either accompanied by a naturalist instructor or freely following the route of 5 numbered white buoys. To see mullets, scissors, knives on the sandy bottom. Black and porous volcanic tuff stones provide a base for anemones, sea urchins, mussels, oysters. Buoy No. 3 takes you to Posidonia, while Buoy No. 5 is in open water, schools of small sardines, anchovies, jellyfish, possibly a corridor of bream or seabass.
Where? Beach. Until September 15.
How Regardless of your PMT equipment. With a guide: Monday to Saturday, at the specified times. Meet at the trailhead booth right next to the aid station: 9:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m. €15, €12 (5 to 8 people), equipment provided. From the age of 8. Register by calling 06 79 46 78 31. Duration about 1 hour.
Cerbère-Banyuls Reserve (Pyrenees-Orientales)
This 250m waterline-bounded, handrailed path is punctuated by five viewing stations representing five ecosystems: shingles, posidonia, rock blocks, faults and falls. Dive boards under the buoys provide information and ask questions like “what does an octopus eat, a starfish?” From 12:00 to 18:00 the rescuers carry out perimeter control. A feature of this trail is the interaction of the buoys with the FM throttle, which generates pre-recorded informational messages.
Where? Fairfit Beach, 66290 Cerbère.
How Free ride, every day, 12:00-18:00.
As well as ? PMT rental (€5) at the trailhead (€7 if FM snorkeling). Single FM tuba rental, €5, ID card deposit. Immersive identification number €5.
Source: Le Figaro
