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 January 2, 2021
Located in a whimsically wooded valley, Calanque de Port d’Alon is a hidden haven of calm. As the cove is very sheltered, the sea is generally pretty calm and clear.
Even though this spot is not that abundant with fish, you can still find great sights, such as salema, moray eels, octopus and starfish.
Calanque de Port d’Alon is located between Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and Bandol.
You can get there by car, but there will be a charge for its two-level parking (the first one overhanging the calanque with an uneven trail of a 10 minutes walk, and the second closer to the calanque, but more expensive).
It is also possible to hike to the calanque from La Madrague (in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer) or from Bandol. Access to the trail or to the cove may be prohibited depending on the fire risk (black for the cove, red for the trail).
You can enter the water from the pebble beach, or directly from the rocks bordering the cove.
You can snorkel throughout the cove, as well as along the rocky coastline leading to the small beach of Pointe des Termes.
The seabed of Port d’Alon is made up of pebbles, rock bars, and posidonia meadows.
Though it is shallow near the beach (↕0.5-2m), the depth then increases quickly, reaching to about 4-5m in the center of the cove.
This spot is not actually located in a marine reserve. Here, big fish are rare, a few common species being salema, two-banded seabream, and mullets.
Near the rocks, you will also see painted comber and damselfish. On the flats, also look for the eye-catching red starfish which are also common in this area.
With a little luck, you might also be able to spot a small gilt-head bream or an Eastern Atlantic peacock wrasse being cleaned by a cleaning wrasse.
This whole area mentioned on the map is a no-boat area. However, be careful especially in the summer when the cove is found to be very busy.
Contrary to some information online, the Calanque de Port d’Alon is not equipped with an underwater trail with buoys.
The restaurant Chez Tonton Ju is located in the cove, just behind the beach.
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.
