Water sports
A number of companies hire water sports equipment in Calvi and with six kilometres of beach there is plenty of space for beginners to try a new sport or enthusiasts to practise. Choose between sailing, jet-skiing, windsurfing, waterskiing, wake boarding, kayaking and parascending.
There are various sites in the area where you can practise windsurfing, catamaran and dinghy sailing, waterskiing and jet skiing. Remember that water skiing is a weather dependant activity, which requires a calm and flat sea. As the wind often picks up during the day, this is often on offer early mornings.The constant presence of the wind attracts windsurfers to Corsica, and the strong winds that whistle through the straits of Bonifacio are some of the best in the Mediterranean for expert windsurfing. The island’s Mediterranean climate and varied bays and beaches also offer superb opportunities for swimming, rock swimming and snorkelling.
The bigger bays of the west coast and the southeast are the main centres for windsurfing as well as dinghy or small catamaran sailing. You can usually hire equipment, from an hour upwards, from fully licensed sailing clubs and many centres offer tuition. Please be aware that without the appropriate licence, you will only be able to rent a motorboat with an engine up to 6cv. If you wish to enrol on a course, we recommend you book early during your stay, especially at the height of the season.
Calvi Nautique
Plage de Calvi
Tel 04 95 65 10 65 / 04 95 35 96 84
An internationally recognised club, which has English-speaking instructors for windsurfing, sailing and kite surfing. Windsurfers, sea canoes, dinghies or catamarans are available for hire by the hour or at a half-day, or day tariff.
Tra Mare e Monte
Port de Plaisance, Calvi (next to port office on the marina)
Tel 04 95 65 21 26
Rents out motorboats of all sizes (also mopeds, quads and more unusual cars including Porsche, Smartcar & Mini Cooper)
Calvi Ski Nautique Club
Le Blokos, Plage de Calvi
Tel 06 08 62 69 46
Offer water-skiing (in the right conditions), parascending, and wake boarding.
Club Nautique de l’Ile Rousse
opposite Hotel Santa Maria
Tel 04 95 60 22 55
Offer courses in sailing, canoeing, sea kayaks and windsurfing and also equipment rental. They also provide jet-ski trips with qualified pilots.
Jet Skiing
Another weather dependant activity, which requires a calm and flat sea. As the wind often picks up during the day, this is often only available early mornings.
Calvi Jet Evasion
Plage de Calvi
Tel 04 95 60 17 12
Jet ski hire, bouée and banana rides.
Corsica Jet-Loisirs
Restaurant les Dunes, Plage de Calvi
Tel 06 08 36 87 42 / 06 12 95 33 05
Jet ski hire and accompanied trips around the Revellata Peninsular and to Scandola.
Diving & Snorkelling
The clear water makes snorkelling popular from many of the coves around Calvi and even from the rocks at the base of the Citadel.
There are some fantastic diving opportunities in and around Calvi and a number of companies offering lessons and excursions. The town’s waters are teeming with wildlife as well as shipwrecks and even an American B-17 bomber that crashed in 1944 and remains just off the coast from the Citadel.
The dramatically rugged landscape on the dry side of the shoreline continues underwater in the form of yet more mountains and canyons, needles, sharp peaks, rocky masses and scree. The onshore maquis scrub meanwhile transforms underwater into a handsome carpet of yellow flowering anemone, red coral and gorgonian. Underwater inhabitants on the island include grouper, brown meagre and dentex and there are a number of easily accessible wrecks to explore. Corsica's superb underwater kingdom has been impressively well preserved, thanks to the careful management of two internationally renowned marine nature reserves, the absence of an intensive commercial fishing industry and an almost total lack of polluters and pollutants.
Remember; do not go diving within the period of 24 hours before you are due to fly.
Calvi Plongée
Port de Plaisance, Calvi
Tel 04 95 65 33 67 or 06 08 05 54 66
Sub Corsica Club
Marine de Sant’Ambroggio
Tel 04 95 60 75 38
Horse riding
There are a few riding schools in the area which offer lessons, hacks and exhilarating rides through the surf.
Treks of differing lengths can be booked ranging from two hours to a whole day. When reserving don’t forget to mention whether or not you are experienced. During the heat of the summer, outings are usually limited to early morning and early evening.
A Cavallu
RN197 (close to the roundabout for Calvi airport.)
Tel 04 95 65 22 22
Boat trips
There are a number of options from Calvi to enable you to get out on the water and get possibly the best view of the town and its stunning mountainous backdrop. It is possible to hire a boat independently to discover a secluded cove or alternatively hire the services of a captain for a private tour of the area. There are also companies operating excursions on glass bottomed boats to the Reserve Naturelle de Scandola, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Girolata and even as far as Ajaccio.
Colombo Line
Quai Landry, Calvi
Tel 04 95 65 32 10
Full and half-day trips every day (in season) to Scandola and Girolata and once a week to Ajaccio
Ambiance Maxi Catamaran
38 Rue Clemenceau, Calvi
Tel: 04 95 60 29 11
Full and half-day trips to Scandola and Desert des Agriates from Calvi as well as sunset excursion. Carries a maximum of 28 passengers. The catamaran stops for swimming, snorkelling and canoing (all equipment carried on board). Prices include lunch/refreshments. Very popular in season, so early booking recommended.