The 5 best diving spots in Brittany

Are you planning a diving expedition in Brittany? Discover all the best spots on France’s most westerly peninsula!

Brittany is world-renowned for the diversity of its dive sites and the multitude of wrecks that line its seabed. Although conditions are sometimes difficult, with currents, reduced visibility and low temperatures, diving in Brittany allows you to discover some of the world’s most unique wonders. Beginners and experienced divers alike will find something to suit them, with sites to suit all levels of experience. So strap on your mask and thick wetsuit, and hop aboard a RIB for the best diving spots in Brittany!

1. The island of Groix

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Volker Rauch

Off the coast of Lorient, put your bags down on the island of Groix to discover a small diving paradise in Brittany. Suitable for beginners and professionals alike, some forty spots await you, from rocky plateaus to wrecks. Situated at the crossroads of the North and South Atlantic, Groix Island boasts an impressive variety of marine species.

Shipwreck enthusiasts will also find something to their liking, with no fewer than 10 vessels lying between 25 and 60 metres below the surface. The Guido Möhring welcomes you at a depth of 30 meters, with a magnificent cannon on deck. The Sperrbrecher is also worth a visit! Immersed at a depth of 20 meters, it is accessible to beginners. Numerous light-permeable openings also make it possible to penetrate the forward section. But the island’s star wreck is undoubtedly the German submarine U171.

Exploration is reserved for experienced divers, as the « grey wolf » lies at -40 metres. Penetration is forbidden, out of respect for the victims who lost their lives in the shipwreck. We can guarantee you an emotional experience in front of this relic of the Second World War! The various periscopes, cannons and openings give you a glimpse of what life was like on board. If you have to choose just one dive in Brittany, there are few places in the world where you can discover a real submarine!

2. Les Glénans

Photo credit: Shutterstock – CELINE NAEGELEN

In the south of Finistère, the Glénans archipelago is one of Brittany’s leading diving destinations. Here you’ll find a wide variety of dive sites, from wrecks to rocky plateaus and drop-offs. Laon Egen Hir is a group of rocks that emerges in the south-east of the archipelago. The depth of just 18 meters ensures access for certified divers of all levels. You can dive into caves and make your way through the rocks. Multicolored anemones and seaweed line the walls, providing ideal hiding places for wildlife.

The wrecks are not to be outdone, with over 10 ships to explore. These include theAlja, the Mustang, theArab and the mythical Pietro Orseolo. This Italian cargo ship was requisitioned by the Germans during the Second World War, then sunk by a British squadron. It lies on the seabed between 17 and 30 meters. You’ll fly over the 142-metre-long ship, discovering the imposing rudder at the stern and three self-propelled trucks at the bow. Fish have colonized the wreck, and you’ll be followed by an impressive school of pout as you explore. Sea bass, conger eels and edible crabs lurk in every nook and cranny. A dive in Brittany not to be missed!

3. Belle-Île-en-Mer

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Pavel Ilyukhin

To combine vacation and diving in Brittany, head for the magnificent Belle-Île-en-Mer. A 45-minute boat ride from Quiberon takes you to one of France’s most beautiful islands, with its Vauban Citadel. There’s no shortage of diving sites along the 80 kilometers of chiselled coastline that surround it. The seabed is inhabited by a rich and diverse fauna of fish, crustaceans and coral. It’s not unusual to come across lobsters hiding in faults or on night dives.

Several wrecks face Le Palais, the island’s main town. The Philippe-Éric is an 18-meter wooden trawler that sank in 1983. The Hanan and its escort were sunk by the British and lie between 22 and 28 meters. They are home to shy sea bass, which can be approached at close quarters. Nestling to the northeast of the island, the American cargo ship Kansan is some 150 meters long. Although in very poor condition, it’s well worth a visit for its varied fauna of crabs, pout, pollack, lobster…

Around the Pointe des Poulains peninsula, don’t miss the Cochon, Pointe de Kerzo andSter Vraz coves. At the latter, you’ll enter Les Cathédrales, imposing holes in the rock that let the sun’s rays filter through. The light show of this dive in Brittany will leave you with unforgettable memories.

4. Wreck of theAmoco Cadiz

Photo credit: Wikipedia – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

World-famous for the oil slick it triggered when it sank in 1978, this wreck lies to the north of Finistère. Today, it has become one of the world’s most famous dive sites. This supertanker, lying on the sand at a depth of 30 meters, is 334 meters long. TheAmoco Cadiz is nothing less than one of the world’s longest shipwrecks! A must-do on your diving logbook in Brittany.

The dive begins at the stern of the wreck, just 7 meters from the surface, before reaching the bottom. You then look up to see the hull rising vertically, the size of a 7-storey building. An impressive sight, adding to the mystical atmosphere of the wreck. The next step is to climb back up, enter the steering room and fly over the deck, looking for signs of the sailors’ presence. Before resurfacing, you’ll see relics such as coiled cables, tanks, railings and even a winch!

The local clubs know the site inside out and will tell you all about it. Due to the currents, which make diving a bit physical, they only take you from level 2 upwards.

5. Brest roadstead

Photo Credit: Facebook – Brest terres océanes

From the Bay of Brest to Le Conquet, there are dozens of dive sites in Brittany waiting to be explored. A species of shark common to Brittany’s coasts, the dogfish, is frequently seen here. Biodiversity is abundant, with colorful anemones, magnificent sponges and all the classic Atlantic fauna. The Grail for divers is also to be found here: seahorses hidden in the seagrass forests.

Numerous clubs will also take you to the surrounding drop-offs, faults, scree and wrecks. Don’t miss Le Dellec, a 22-metre barge used by the German army during the Second World War. Between 8 and 11 meters deep, it is accessible to beginners. It’s one of the best dive sites in Brittany for wreck exploration. The most impressive feature is the well-preserved turret with 4 torpedo tubes.

Lying between 25 and 30 meters below the surface, L’Émile Allard was cut in 2 following a bombing raid in 1943. In general, visibility is good. Diving should be done at slack water to avoid strong tidal currents.

So, which dive in Brittany would you choose?