Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee. Resort nearby
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Last updated on May 28, 2022
There are almost no snorkel spots along the 200km-long shoreline extending between the Camargue natural park and the city of Perpignan. Located at the foot of Cap d’Agde volcanic cliffs, La Plagette is one of the only renowned ones in the area. It is a nice place to discover the numerous species populating Mediterranean underwater rocky environments (blennies, salema, cuttlefish and red mullets). A snorkel trail made of 5 educative buoys has been set here since 2007.
La Plagette (plagette means small beach in French) is part of Cap d’Agde, a huge seaside resort of Southern France. It is located between the dyke signaling the old harbor’s entry and famous La Conque beach, nestled in an ancient volcanic crater.
La Plagette can easily be reached: it is a short walk from the harbor or from the eastern neighborhoods of the city. If you’re a newcomer, look for Cap d’Agde Marine Aquarium. This landmark you can’t miss is located less than 150 meters from the beach.
Enter the water from the beach, close to the cliffs extending on your left when facing the sea.
The snorkeling area extends along the cape’s cliffs; it is about 50 meters large from the rocks to the open sea. Be careful not to swim beyond the black rocks (see map above), where the sea usually is rougher.
The easiest and most instructive way to explore this spot is to follow the snorkel trail set in the bay. It is made up of 5 floating buoys to which educational panels have been fixed. The 200-meter-long itinerary goes through all the bay’s marine environments, in places where water depth never exceeds 5 meters, and it is free of charge.
If you’re a beginner, or if you simply prefer to be accompanied by a naturalist guide, you can book a guided tour (€15pp., gear included, advance booking necessary – see more on the tourist office’s website.
There is an information center on the beach. Be aware that the underwater path is only present from June 17th to September 10th, when lifeguards are on duty. The buoys are removed from water outside this time period.
The underwater path is a very convenient and enjoyable way to discover the spot, but you are of course free to explore the whole snorkeling area the way you prefer.
As it extends at the foot of volcanic cliffs, the seabed is mainly rocky here (↕0.5-1.5m), but sandy areas (due to its basaltic origin, sand is dark here) and some Posidonia islets are also to be seen. The shallow area located close to the shoreline is packed with sea urchins and anemones, amongst which several blenny species, gobies, and cuttlefish can be seen.
Get closer to the rock drop-off, especially next to the black rocks at the foot of the cape (↕3-5m), and you will have good chances to observe breams, striped red mullets, wrasse and schools of salema.
Underwater visibility is variable on this spot. Because of the large sandy beaches located nearby, water is rarely crystal-clear.
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.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
