Perched on the border between Spain and France, Cerbere is a very busy little village that is mostly recognized for its famous Gard de Cerbere railway station, which handles gauge switches for trains traveling between the two nations. Many people bypass the area entirely; it is, after all, far from popular tourist destinations. For divers in search of lovely sites and a relaxed pace, Cerbere may be just the ticket; after all, it is the site of the Cerbere-Banyuls National Nature Reserve, which was the first marine reserve to be established in France. Here, we’ll explore a few of the many fantastic dive sites found in this part of France.
Les Chambres
A fantastic dive site that’s easy to access from shore, Les Chambres begins with a shallow slope at a depth of just 2 to 3 meters. As you make your way down this slope, you’ll encounter a sudden drop to a depth of 15 meters, all without seeing much in the way of marine life. After a second drop to a depth of 17 meters, you’ll suddenly find yourself immersed in a much more colorful world; coral colonies, gorgonians, and anemones cover the rocks all the way down to the seabed, which is located at a depth of 23 meters. Along the way, keep an eye out for nudibranchs, leopard-spotted gobies, pompano, and large groupers, as well as more common fish including bream, forkbeard, and wrasse.
Coralligene de Cerbere
A massive coral plateau that stretches for a length of approximately 1 kilometer and which is about 300 meters across, Coralligene de Cerbere is a fantastic site which must be seen to be appreciated. Along its surface, various types of coral colonies have taken hold, along with colonies of sponge and hydroid, sea squirts, and several varieties of sea anemones. Small creatures including sea stars, crabs, and little lobsters can be found in abundance, along with wrasse, damsels, rooster fish, swallowtails, and other fishes. Maximum depth is 50 meters, however the best features are located between 20 and 30 meters. Visibility varies widely; sometimes it is as low as about 10 meters, but at other times, it exceeds 30 meters.
La Fordada
La Foradada is a spectacular underwater canyon with steep walls that are almost completely covered in corals and sponges. Featuring maximum depth at just 22 meters and offering visibility between 10 and 35 meters, this site is an excellent one for encountering eels, octopus, groupers, and other species that enjoy hiding in rocky dens; there are also plenty of colorful fish including cuckoo wrasse, blennies, and rooster fish here. As with other sites in the vicinity, visibility varies, averaging 15-25 meters.
While visiting Cerbere, be sure to spend at least a little time simply relaxing and soaking up the sun on one of the clean, white beaches; in addition, take a journey to the megalithic sites which serve as evidence of prehistoric occupation, and enjoy the architecture, monuments, and hospitality this beautiful border town has to offer.