The reserve, the grouper , the sites
Protected since 1974, you will observe a rich and abundant life: grouper, barracudas, sargo, gilthead seabream, corbs.
For lovers of exploration and macro photography, the fixed fauna offers many colorful subjects: corals, anemones, lobsters, nudibranchs etc.
- Cap l’Abeille : Corbs, grouper S, dentis, zebra seabream , Castagnoles, Mournes, Mostelles, conger eel S, lobsters, nudibranches, coral, alcyons, etc.
- The three monks/the dome: Corbs, grouper S, dentis, zebra seabream , Castagnoles, etc.
- Les Tinyes: common, zebra seabream , dentis, Dorades, Doris, Flabellines, Bryozoa, ascidies, sponges, etc.
In the Cerbère-Banyuls reserve, the dusky grouper has become the face of conservation. The first marine reserve in France, established in 1974, it has seen the species grow from a handful of individuals in the 1980s to several hundred today. They hold their ground among the rocks and often allow themselves to be observed closely: here, there is no more spearfishing, and the marine life is less wary than elsewhere on the coast.
Among the diving sites of the reserve, Cap l’Abeille is distinguished by its rich marine life
This site is particularly popular with experienced divers.
During your dive at Cap l’Abeille, you will be able to observe:
- Large grouper
- Dentines
- zebra seabream
- Castagnoles
- Moray eels
- Barracudas
For those who prefer more discreet creatures, you will also find lobsters with long antennas and colored nudibranchs
The 10 golden rules of the eco-responsible diver
Immerse yourself like your shadow ... Do not leave any trace!
“I like the sea and I protect it. »»
- Never put yourself in the water while walking on the reeds, the aquatic plants, the living corals.
- Be master of your buoyancy.
- Keep corals and other animals remotely, do not stir the sediments.
- Check where you get anchor if you dive from a boat.
- Do not disturb, touch and feed animals.
- Do not fish and buy corals and shells.
- Be very attentive during diving in caves: bubbles and simple contact can destroy their delicate life.
- Keep the diving sites clean.
- Get to know the underwater life, avoid any destruction.
- Encourage your diving companions to follow these rules.
Charter of 15 eco-responsible commitments for 2024: FFESSM
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The reinforced protection zone remains off-limits. The center knows which areas are authorized.
We can't promise to grouper them at the meeting point: it's still the sea, not an aquarium. Here, protected since 1974, they are at home among the rocks, and we often come across them, quite simply.
Wildlife regularly encountered in the marine reserve
Photographs Sylvie and Denis Bellanger
