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.
This spot has been added by
Last updated on June 5, 2021
Anse Magaud offers a pristine and authentic environment complete with sea cliffs, pine trees and fishing huts. Its bay is also famous for being one of the most preserved of the Var coastline. A snorkel trail was set here in 2007, making the bay’s underwater wonders easier to observe: octopuses, schools of salema, gilt-head breams and many, many red sea stars can all be observed in a few meters of water.
Anse Magaud is located in La Garde, a city located about 5km from the harbor and city center of Toulon. If you’re driving there, park your car close to the roundabout located at Avenue Cdt Houot and Boulevard du Dr Mougarel’s crossing. Be aware that parking space is limited along the road and only a few cars can park next to the roundabout.
From here, walk down the narrow paved road called “Chemin de la Mer”. The bay, well indicated, is about 10 minutes further down the road. The way back up the slope to your car is likely to be longer, and more tiring, especially during summer.
The beach is made of rocks and small pebbles. We advise to enter the water at its western extremity (on your left when facing the sea), as close as possible to the underwater path.
The easiest and most instructive way to explore Anse Magaud is to follow the snorkel trail set in front of the beach. It is made up of 6 floating buoys to which educative signs have been tied, and goes through all the bay’s marine environments: scree, Posidonia meadow, sea caves…
Access to the path is free but you can also book a guided tour if you want to know more (5 euro pp., gear included, advance booking required. More information on La Garde city’s website – in French). Be aware that the snorkel trail is only open from June to September, while 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. The rocks emerging at the center of the bay (↕10-20ft/3-6m) and the rocky seabed facing the beach (↕2-6ft/0,5-2m) are also interesting to explore.
Many different marine environments can be observed in Anse Magaud, from rock drop-offs to Posidonia and sandy areas. During your snorkeling, you will probably meet wrasses, sargo, two-banded seabream, salema and maybe even a few gilt-head breams.
Since fishing is forbidden in the bay, small octopuses are commonplace in its rocky areas. Mediterranean red starfish are particularly numerous on this spot, you won’t miss them.
Since it is enclosed and protected by rocks, Anse Magaud is blessed with a quiet sea and its usual water conditions are perfect for snorkeling. Mind the boats that sometimes circulate nearby if you go beyond the swimming area.
The restaurant “Bernard” is located on the beach’s western side. It is the only restaurant nearby, but you can also bring your own food and have a picnic.
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
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.
