Biarritz is a favourite among luxury tourists looking for some French sun, and surfers looking to ride the big Atlantic rollers. It lies in the French Basque country, between the ocean and the Pyrenees. It has a huge sandy beach and plenty of upmarket bars. It’s a fun place to be above water, but there is plenty of opportunity to explore under the water too, on a Biarritz scuba diving trip.
Most dives are quite deep: often below 20m. It would be useful to get your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver qualification under your belt before diving in the area, so you can go deep enough! The water tends to be too choppy to dive off the beach: most dives are boat dives.
Diving around Biarritz and the Basque coast is mainly about wreck diving. The often wild, windy seas in the area mean that many ships have found their way to the sea floor over the years. Many divers travel to nearby Hendaye to catch a dive boat – access to many of the wrecks is easier from there. The Cruz Secundo is a particular favourite – a well-preserved trawler at 40m.
Another good site nearby is Arachon Bay, a sheltered bay with some interesting sea fauna to explore, and lots of sea horses – the largest population in France. It’s a good place for beginners to get some practice in, with its relatively calm waters and shallow shore dives.
A Biarritz scuba diving trip is the perfect contrast to the casinos and glamour of the resort. The Basque coast has plenty of dive sites to choose from, with wreck divers especially well catered for. And after a dive, Biarritz’s beach and bars are the perfect place to unwind.
