Diving is an activity that aims to discover the seabed through specific equipment, including bottles, pressure reducer, octopus, lifejacket, fins, and masks. The diver, to breathe, usually has the choice between the scuba tank, which is an air bottle, and the hookah, which is a hose that brings air from the surface. The first equipment is the most used.

Yannick Dacheville distinguishes different diving techniques that are characterized by the technology used. Examples include scuba diving (rigid, helmet-mounted or self-contained), teak diving, air diving and diving with a recycler.

The National Reserve of Scandola is a place of world renown for this activity; it is located in Corsica. It is on the Unesco World Heritage List and covers an area of 2000 hectares. This place located between the capo Rosso Peninsula and Galerie has a rich landscape that allows discovering various reliefs and important biodiversity. The crystal clear waters allow to see up to 40 meters of depth. It is advisable to go there in June and September because it is at this time that the climate is very pleasant.

Yannick Dacheville explains that this land and Marine Reserve is famous for its rich fauna made up of rare animals. These include Ospreys, peregrine falcons, Bluebirds, and light martinets. The sea is home to more than 450 species of algae, multiple corals and endangered fish.

A boat ride allows you to appreciate better the landscape made up of volcanic organs, some of which have horizontal striations. The government, to preserve this heritage, has severely regulated maritime access. Indeed, it is forbidden to make Bivouac and scuba diving. Also, moorings are permitted only during the day.

Malta and Gozo

Malta and Gozo is an archipelago and one of the best sites in the world located in the south of Sicily. This place has a rich underwater heritage that leaves no one indifferent. It is renowned for its clear waters, pleasant temperature and diverse landscape, consisting of gigantic cathedrals-like underwater caves, limestone cliffs, grand arches, and steep tombstones.

The sea is calm, warm; the fauna is abundant and varied. It is imperative to walk through caves, chimneys, and crevices to admire groupers, lobsters, schools of sardines, morays, and dragonflies. There are also Spirographs, sponges, and orange-red madrepores.

A stroll under fort Saint-Elme reveals the wreck of the Maori, a 115-meter-long ship that sank in 1942. These superstructures provide refuge for a variety of marine species, including octopus. A stop at Ahrax Point in the north-east of Malta is necessary to admire a vast cave, a remarkable fall, and a varied fauna. The caves and cavities in the underwater valley of Wied is Zurrieq are home to Cardinals, soups, and groupers, comments Yannick Dacheville on Twitter.

The island of Elba

Nicknamed the “paradise of diving”, the island of Elba is a destination located in Italy. It is the largest Tuscan Archipelago with an area of 224 km2. This holiday resort is very popular for its wide variety of fish, micro-organisms, algae, corals and its clear waters. This island contains a multitude of sites that leave no one indifferent.

Yannick Dacheville proposes a scuba diving excursion in the wreck of the Elviscot to visit an old cargo ship that is 12 meters underwater. This attraction located near the rock of Ogliera is reachable by swimming. Just bring a helmet and a snorkel. This ship completely covered with seaweed is inhabited by a multitude of Fish and various marine creatures. There are blades, black-headed sars, Congres, soles, and bends.

A grouper fall is a protected place located in the Scaglietti. This white pebble spot contains almost all the marine fauna and flora of the Mediterranean. There are many groupers, perlonians, morays, crabs, and cobwebs.

Crete

Crete is the largest island in Greece with a rich marine heritage. It is known as one of the best spots in the country because of its many attractions. It is possible to immerse anywhere on the island except in military areas and archaeological sites. Divers must get there, as it contains crystal clear waters with little current.

The fauna is certainly not made up of large fish, but it retains a great diversity. These include octopus, morays, groupers, cicadas, nudibranchs, sea hares, and newts. A walk in the caves and rocks allows us admiring many rays.

Most of the spots are in the north of the island. Agia Pelagia and Bali are famous for their rich flora and fauna while the Chania reveals a multitude of rocks and caves. Yannick Dacheville finds the landscape of Rethymno very pleasant in the summer, as it is at this time that the underwater life is very rich. This place is prized for its caves, tombstones, and berries.

Croatia

Kornati National Park is a national park in Croatia. It attracts many amateurs and professionals of diving because of its clear waters, its underwater caves, its archeological curiosities, its flora, and its diverse fauna. The areas dedicated to this activity reveal a rich underwater ecosystem.

The waters contain more than 160 species of fish, turtles, coral and sea sponges. Access to this area, which is considered to be a playground or a place of Discovery, must be through an approved diving center.

The island of Lastovo is also one of the places to discover in Croatia. This place hosts in its depths many curiosities of history dating from antiquity to today. The sea, with its clear waters lodges a plethora of wrecks that adorn the seabed. Its people also deserve a halt.

Located in Dubrovnik, the island of Barbara preserves one of the most beautiful underwater caves of the Adriatic. This curiosity, located at a depth of 15 meters, can be easily reached by amateur and professional divers.