This spot has been added by

snorkeling team
Snorkeling Report's team
Other contributors You can help us keep this page up-to-date by uploading your pictures to the photo gallery, or by sending us your comments via the contact form

Last updated on

The steep path leading to Sugiton offers gorgeous views over this beautiful calanque (steep-walled cove typical from the surroundings of Marseille). Its inviting clear, turquoise waters framed by white cliffs are a nice snorkel spot where the curious will spot numerous fish species, sea urchins and red starfish.

View of Calanque de Sugiton and Le Torpilleur
View of Calanque de Sugiton and “Le Torpilleur”.

How to get to Calanque de Sugiton?

The way to the calanque starts at Luminy Campus, south of Marseille. From there, a path leads down to the shore. It is a one-hour-long walk on the way down, expect the way up to be longer (about 1h and 20 minutes).

Since 2022, access to Sugiton is limited to 400 persons a day during most of the summer months. Free reservations shall be made in advance via the Calanques National Park’s website.

Calanque de Sugiton snorkeling map

Getting into the water to snorkel Calanque de Sugiton

You can enter the water from several places, notably from the small beaches located at the calanque’s bottom. However, we advise to enter the water from the rocks located in front of “Le Torpilleur” (the torpedo boat), this great boat-shaped rock emerging from the water about 10 meters from the shoreline, as the most interesting snorkeling areas lie between the shoreline and “Le Torpilleur”.

Calanque de Sugiton snorkeling tips

If the whole calanque can be snorkeled, the surroundings of “Le Torpilleur” are the best area considering underwater fauna and flora.

Etoile de mer rouge dans la calanque de Sugiton
A red starfish photographed on the rocky wall.

Between the shoreline and “Le Torpilleur”, the shallow seabed is covered with rocky scree and a few Posidonia meadows. This area attracts schools of salema, wrasses (rainbow wrasses and ornate wrasses) and numerous rock fish species, including gobies and red-black triplefin.

Getting closer to “Le Torpilleur”, don’t forget to cast an eye on the drop-off: the view is spectacular when underwater visibility is good. Schools of hundreds of damselfish stay still along the sea cliff to which multiple red sea stars cling.

Banc de saupes de Méditerranée dans la calanque de Sugiton
Schools of salma abound in the calanque.

If you swim further off, away from the marked area, consider using a buoy to be more visible to the numerous boats coming and going in the cove.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

Sugiton is a wild place deprived of drinking water, where no restaurants can be found, but it is a perfect place for a picnic. Bring a lot of water along with you: you will especially need it on the way back to the car park, which can be very tiring, especially during summer.

 

  • Level required Beginner
  • Protected areaParc National des Calanques
  • Maximum depth10m/33ft
  • Water entranceFrom rocks (or a pebble beach)
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersHigh during summer months
  • Access costsFree
  • Restaurants nearbyNo
  • Public toilets & showersNo

MAP Spot

These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.