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 April 12, 2021
Les Pontons Suspendus is one of the best locations to snorkel Lake Annecy and discover its aquatic life. Located near the city center and easily accessible, don’t hesitate to check it out if you’re staying in the area. Around the pontoons and all along the shore, you will spot aquatic plants, several species of freshwater fish (perch, tench, roach, blenny) and crayfish.
Les Pontons Suspendus site is located on the north shore of Lake Annecy, between Annecy-le-Vieux and Chavoire. It is located on the roadside, and a car park with around 20 spaces has been set up opposite the spot (location of the car park here).
By bike, the site is about 3km east of Annecy city center (secure cycle path).
You can enter the water either from the pontoons that line the shore at this part of the lake (and which gave the site their name), or from the rocks.
Les Pontons Suspendus site can be divided into two snorkel areas:
1. On the right (north of the car park), the shore is bordered by a water promenade, laid out at 3-4m from the edge.
Underwater, the shore extends into a steep drop off. In places, you’ll find fields of aquatic plants (Myriophyllum sp.), in which fry and juveniles of several species of fish hide.
By skindiving 1 or 2m deep on the drop off, you may spot schools of roaches and perch. Sometimes, a big trench has been dug through the mud. The area located under the pontoons (↕2-4ft/0.5-1.5m) are also very lively, with many perch sheltering around the stilts.
2. On the left (south of the car park), the shore returns to its “natural” state. You can snorkel along it until the tall trees.
Here, the drop-off begins more than 10m from the shore, leaving a nice shallow area (↕2-6ft/0.5-2m) to explore along it. On the rocky bottoms, look for freshwater blennies and signal crayfish, which remain close to their hiding places. Perch and roach are easy to see in the shallows.
There is no bar or restaurant directly opposite the spot. About 300m north of the pontoons (going towards Annecy), there are several roadside snacks.
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.
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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.
