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 July 19, 2021
Rondinara is one Corsica’s coastline wonders. This small bay shaped like a shell, with steadily deepening turquoise water, is often said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Corsica, or even in Europe. As the bay is almost closed, it shelters calm, shallow and clear waters that make perfect conditions for a snorkeling session from the very water surface. Underwater fauna and flora make an endless show to the Curious, complete with salema, mullets, cuttlefish and starfish, in a waterscape shared between rocky areas and Posidonia meadows.
Rondinara beach is located midway between Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio, about 45 minutes from each city if driving. The beach is indicated by a sign located at the side of N198, the road connecting Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio. Take the narrow road winding through the scrub to reach the bay.
A parking lot has been set at the backside of the beach (a 5€ parking fee is required, 2020), close to Chez Ange restaurant. There is another option: park next to the campsite located along the access road and walk to the beach taking a 400m long path through the scrub.
The best snorkel area in Rondinara is located at the very north of the bay (see zone 1 on the map below). To reach this area from the parking lot and Chez Ange restaurant, follow the beach’s edge until you get to the end of the beach. There is a path with a few passages over rocks, count 20 to 30 minutes to the snorkel spot.
Enter the water directly from the fine sand beach, along the rocks closing the bay.
The best snorkeling area in Rondanina is located along the peninsula closing the bay at its northern side. It is the most sheltered part of the site, as it is protected by a rocky formation, and water is exceptionally calm, making it a perfect place for beginners.
Start from the very end of the beach and swim along the rocky shore. The sandy seabed rapidly gives way to rocks and Posidonia meadows, as the water depth remains limited (3-5ft/1-1,5m) even dozens of meters away from the beach.
Five-spotted wrasse, rainbow wrasse and schools of sardines appreciate the bay’s calm waters, whereas sea cucumbers and sea urchins lay on the seabed. Schools of salema with horizontal green and yellow stripes can often be seen above the sea meadows.
As you swim forward along the rocks, the seabed slopes down. Water depth reaches about 10ft/3 meters at the very end of the peninsula. In those deeper areas, you might spot a common cuttlefish that won’t hesitate to escape if it feels threatened, leaving a cloud of ink behind. Sargoes, mullets and saddled seabream are also common sights in Rondinara.
There is another snorkel area in the bay (see zone number 2 on the map). It is located at the other side of the bay, close to the restaurant. It is rockier and less sheltered from waves and wind than the first one, but possibilities to spot aquatic life remain good.
Chez Ange, a beach hut set directly on the sand, is the only restaurant onsite. Rondinara is a secluded place: bringing your own food and having a picnic might be the best option if you’re staying here all day. Rondinara Campsite is located about 400m from the beach following a hiking trail (1,2 km following the road).
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.
