Planier Island
Scuba diving enthusiasts, the island of Planier and its exceptional underwater depths are waiting for you! Its offshore lighthouse guides fishermen and illuminates the bay.
THE LIGHTHOUSE OF ÎLE PLANIER
Floating in the middle of the sea, just 15 kilometers from the Marseille coast, the lighthouse of Île Planier is the 4th to be built on this location since the Middle Ages. Every day, its lighthouse towering at 71 meters illuminates the bay with its beam, sweeping the horizon for about 50 kilometers around. Built in 1947 on the ruins of its predecessor, it is now the only functional and maintained building on the island. When the lighthouse's operation was automated in 1992, and the island was abandoned, it became a landmark for scuba diving enthusiasts. In the same year, the lighthouse was classified as a historical monument.
EXCEPTIONAL UNDERWATER DEPTHS
Although this island is off-limits to the public, the depths of the Mediterranean Sea bordering the island attract many scuba diving enthusiasts every year. Many wrecks litter the island's surroundings, and among those identified, you can explore:
- The Chaouen, a Moroccan cargo ship, part of which remained above water for a long time before the currents caused it to sink.
- The Dalton, a lead ingot carrier. Accessible through the rear hold, you can observe the rudder and the propeller.
- The Messerschmitt. This fighter plane, partly buried in the sand, reveals its engine, propeller, cannon, landing gear, and its two particularly well-preserved wings.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ÎLE PLANIER
Built on a 3-hectare plot, the lighthouse of Île Planier is the first visual landmark that sailors encounter when returning to the shore. Today, due to the extreme state of disrepair of the former scientific laboratories and residences, access to the island is prohibited. It is only possible to approach it as part of an aquatic activity. However, scuba diving is subject to conditions: the sea must be calm and the weather clear to ensure safe activity.