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.
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Last updated on September 25, 2023
Le Petit Mornas is a tiny rocky islet facing Plage du Rouet, on the Côte Bleue. Laying less than 100 meters from the coast, it offers good shore snorkeling. Below the surface, you’ll observe a rich sea life, including a diversity of fish, octopuses and gorgonians.
This spot is located in Carry-le-Rouet, next to Plage du Rouet. Paid parking is available in summer near the beach but come early in the morning as it fills up quickly. Out of summer, there are parking spaces along the road, near the roundabout.
The snorkel entry is approximately a 350-meter walk from Plage du Rouet. From the beach, follow the seaside towards the east (towards the left when you are facing the sea), take the Chemin de la Vierge then the Chemin de la Grande Mona. You will see on your left a small concrete jetty, which is the recommended snorkel entry (exact location here). The site is sheltered from the north wind.
The best water entrance is from the concrete steps at the end of the jetty. It is also possible to enter the water from the nearby pebble beach.
From the jetty, we recommend you snorkel left hand and explore the “pyramids”, these small rock blocks sunk right next to the jetty (snorkeling area 1 on the map). Continue to follow the coast until you reach the rocky point facing the islet (it is located about 180 meters from the snorkel entry).
You will then be able to swim the 90 meters which separate you from Petit Mornas (snorkeling area 2 on the map). On the way, you’ll snorkel over nice rocky bottoms between 10 and 33 feet/3 and 10 meters deep.
Le Petit Mornas features little colorful drop-offs, on which a few yellow gorgonians are fixed. This environment allows for observing cuttlefish, octopuses, and many small fish.
Throughout the area, you can get the chance to spot mullet, European bass, seabream, red mullet and wrasse. Scorpionfish sometimes hide in rocky crevices. With a little luck, you might even encounter a juvenile dusky grouper.
If you wish to explore further, you can then continue to follow the coast to the Calanque des Eaux Salées (a 500-meter snorkel from Petit Mornas islet, and a 550-meter snorkel from the jetty).
Experienced snorkelers may consider snorkeling Grand Mornas, another rocky islet lying some 200 meters off Calanque des Eaux Salées.
Several restaurants are located around Plage du Rouet.
These spots are only recommended to good swimmers, in good physical conditions, and with excellent snorkeling skills. These spots can experience currents, moderate waves, important depths, tight or narrow passages, or tricky water entrance, and can be located near hazardous areas (channels, boat traffic, strong currents…). The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas can be important - up to 500 meters. The “advanced” category includes drift snorkeling (transported by currents) and snorkeling off the coast. 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.
