Lerin Islands Plateau
Nice / Cote d'Azur · France
Off the shore of Cannes, the Lerin Islands — Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat — sit atop a shallow limestone plateau that transitions into spectacular rocky reefs colonised by sponges, gorgonians, and dense populations of sea bream, wrasse, and octopus. The site is sheltered from prevailing south-westerly swells and remains diveable much of the year. Posidonia meadows in the bays between the islands support cuttlefish and long-snouted seahorses, making it one of the most ecologically diverse sites on the Cote d'Azur. Night dives here reveal a population of red scorpionfish hunting across the reef.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 35 m
Advanced depths
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
15 to 25 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
13 to 26°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 13 |
| Vis (m) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 10 |
| Current | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Still |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Red Scorpionfish
Last confirmed Jul 2, 2026 · 29 records
Very likely
Most dives
Sea Bream
Last confirmed Jun 7, 2026 · 29 records
Very likely
Most dives
Common Octopus
Last confirmed Jun 12, 2026 · 35 records
Very likely
Most dives
Mediterranean Moray Eel
Last confirmed Jul 8, 2026 · 38 records
Very likely
Most dives
Yellow Gorgonian
Last confirmed Jun 20, 2026 · 12 records
Very likely
Most dives
Dusky Grouper
Last confirmed Jul 7, 2026 · 18 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Mediterranean Wrasse
Last confirmed Oct 24, 2024 · 3 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Cuttlefish
Last confirmed Jun 12, 2026 · 13 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Gear