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
This spot has been added by
Last updated on August 8, 2021
Located a few hundred meters off L’Ile-Rousse, the small island of la Pietra is one of the most accessible snorkel spots in northern Corsica. La Pietra is dented in its upper part, hosting a small, generally sheltered bay. Its crystal-clear shallow waters (only a few meters) are a great place to spot wrasses (including Mediterranean rainbow wrasse and ornate wrasse), sea anemones and salema.
La Pietra is not really an island anymore: it is connected to the city of L’Ile-Rousse by a short dam (about 200m long), making the spot really easy to access. If you plan to drive there (5 minutes), follow the harbor direction and stop at the parking lot in front of Hotel La Pietra.
From there, you will have to walk towards the lighthouse for about 10 minutes, and then follow a small path down to the creek to get to the water entrance point (see map). You can also walk to the spot from the city center (1,5 km).
We advise you to enter the water from the small pebble stone beach located at the creek’s bottom. The small path indicated on the map gets right there. Stick to this path: the other paths located nearby are very steep and can be dangerous.
The snorkel spot covers the whole creek area. However, be careful not to swim out of the sheltered area: strong water currents can occur on the northern side of the beach, notably between La Pietra Island and Broccio Island.
Starting from the beach, the seabed is first covered with large white pebbles over about 20 meters (↕0.5-1.5m/2-10ft). Look for broadnosed pipefish: those fish are masters of camouflage and can perfectly imitate Neptune grass leaves. Juveniles belonging to various species also shelter in this calm and shallow area, sometimes gathering in large schools.
Further on, the seabed gets rocky and sometimes covered with Neptune grass meadows (↕1-4m/3-12ft). We advise focusing on the rocks bordering the southern side of the creek, where underwater life thrives the most.
In Neptune grass meadows, you will meet schools of small salema, sometimes a hundred fish big. Try to spot brown wrasse, they weave their way through Neptune grass when feeling threatened. Rocky areas are the natural habitat of red-black triplefin, Mediterranean rainbow wrasse and easy-to-approach five-spotted wrasse. Sea anemones are sometimes settled at the foot of the rocky walls.
This sheltered spot is generally quiet and boasts crystal clear water. However, don’t enter the water under bad weather conditions, or if waves are entering the creek.
La Pietra Island is a gorgeous natural site, perfect for picnicking. During high season, La Pietra Hotel, located about a hundred meters from the spot, also provides food and accommodation. Another option is Brasserie du Port, about a hundred more meters to the South.
More generally, you will find convenience stores, restaurants and accommodation options fitting all budgets in L’Ile-Rousse, about 1.5km south of the spot.
This reference identification guide includes all the 860 marine fish species that may be encountered while snorkeling in coastal Western Europe and the Mediterranean.
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.
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.
