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The Mario Wreck is probably one of the most snorkeleable wrecks along the Corsican coast. Located about 150 m from a beach and at a moderate depth (26 to 30 ft/8 to 9 m), it is easily accessible and can be enjoyed from the surface of the sea. Covered with algae and sponges, the wreck attracts around it many fish such as damselfish, combers, saddled seabreams and red mullets.

Stagnola Beach, Pietrosella, Corsica
Stagnola Beach, Pietrosella.

How to get to the Mario Wreck snorkeling spot?

The Mario Wreck is located in Pietrosella, a coastal village located about 13 km south of Porticcio and 24 km south of Ajaccio. The wreck is about 150 m in front of Stagnola Beach (Plage de Stagnola).

If you come by car, the easiest way is to park at the Isolella car park, about 300 m on foot from the beach, but there are also a few parking spaces closer. Once on Stagnola Beach, walk up towards the east (on your right when you are facing the sea) until you encounter a stone wall.

Mario Wreck snorkeling map, Corsica

Water entrance for snorkeling the Mario Wreck

Enter the water from the beach, in the center of the stone wall (see map above). You will be roughly opposite the wreck.

Mario Wreck snorkeling exploration tips

To reach the wreck, snorkel perpendicular to the beach for about 150 meters. You should soon see the shape of the wreck on the seabed.

The Mario Wreck, a tug almost 18 meters long, is placed on the sand, 26 to 30 ft/8 to 9 m deep. Sunk in 1993, the wreck is in very good condition and offers a very beautiful underwater landscape.

The Mario Wreck
The Mario Wreck.

If you skindive, you can get closer to the structure and observe the underwater life that calls the wreck home. The Mario has been covered over time by different types of algae and by sponges from Dictyonella genus, forming an oasis of life in the middle of the sandy beds.

Structure of the Wreck of the Mario
The wreck offer lots of hiding places.

The Mario supports shoals of saddled seabreams and damselfish, as well as many painted combers which like to shelter in the hiding places offered by the wreck. Red mullets are common around the wreck, busy feeding on the sand.

Painted comber at the Mario Wreck
A painted comber sheltering in the wreck of the Mario.

Between the wreck and the beach, you will cross rocky areas and Posidonia meadows where you can see many fish and occasionally octopus or cuttlefish.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

You will find several food options on the western part of the beach.

 

  • Level required Intermediate
  • Maximum depth30ft/10m
  • Water entranceFrom a sandy beach
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersLow
  • Access costsFree

MAP Spot

These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters.

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.