Fréjus - Le Lion de Mer

Le Lion de Mer is one of the Côte d'Azur's most iconic dive sites, a dramatic rocky pinnacle rising from the seabed just offshore between Fréjus and Saint-Raphaël. The site takes its name from its profile, which evokes a lion at rest when viewed from a distance. Below the surface, the reef plunges through a cascade of red gorgonians, yellow cup corals, and Mediterranean coralligenous formations to depths beyond 40 meters on its southern face. The site is remarkable for offering something for every level of diver. The shallow plateau at 10-15 meters shelters two beloved underwater icons — "La Vierge" (a Virgin Mary statue) and "La Sirène" (a mermaid sculpture) — both placed as tributes by local divers and now covered in life. Natural arches and swim-throughs add playful topography for intermediate divers. Deeper, the walls reveal dense schools of anthias, curious groupers, resident moray eels, scorpionfish camouflaged among the rocks, and frequent passing barracudas. Encounters with amberjack, bream and even the occasional sunfish are not unusual in summer. Visibility often exceeds 20 meters, and the site is accessible year-round. One of the best dives in France for experienced guides to showcase the richness of Mediterranean marine life.