Canyoning
Canyoning is a popular sport involving travelling down creeks or streams within a canyon by a variety of means including walking, scrambling, climbing, abseiling and swimming. It requires skills in navigation, ropework and climbing. Obviously the operation of canyoning pursuits is dependent on appropriate weather conditions and the level of the water in the river. Therefore, it may be possible that the activity is not operational at times of particularly high (or low) water and, accordingly, we suggest you contact the operator earlier in your holiday rather than later, in order to avoid disappointment. Companies have qualified guides and the necessary equipment but participants should have a reasonable level of fitness and be competent swimmers.
In Terra Corsa
Gare de Ponte Leccia
Tel 04 95 47 69 48
Interracorsa.com
Offers canoeing excursions into the River Asco, together with 'rando-canyoning' (sliding down rapids & waterfalls), rock climbing and tree-top & rope bridge walking.
A.S. Niolu, Calacuccia
Tel 04 95 48 05 22
haute-montagne-corse.com
Canyoning in the Ruda and Frascaghju gorges on the tributaries of the River Golo around Calacuccia and Albertacce.
Altipiani
2 Place Paoli, Corte
Tel 09 60 37 08 42
Altipiani-corse.com
Conyoning in the Manganello and Vecchio rivers in the lee of Monte d'Oru at the Col de Vizzavona
Canoeing
Canoeing is dependant on correct weather conditions and the level of the water in the river. It may not therefore always be possible and you are advised to contact the clubs earlier during your holiday rather than later, in order to avoid disappointment.
In Terra Corsa
Gare de Ponte Leccia
TEL.04 95 47 69 48
Interracorsa.com
Take daily canoeing excursions into the valley of Asco.
Club Nautique de L'lle Rousse
Route du Port, L'lle Rousse
Tel 04 95 60 22 55
www.cnir.org
Trips to the beaches of L'lle Rousse, Bodri and Ghjunchitu and around the 'Red Island'.
Diving and snorkelling
The best dive sites on the island are predominantly on the west coast (although the waters around Bonifacio can be equally as interesting). For those who are unqualified, an initiation dive (baptême) can be done with most of the clubs listed below. Those who are PADI qualified can go on organised dives and rent equipment, and include a number of world-renowned sites. Most of the dive shops on the island provide nitrox recharge facilities and sell a range of accessories and dive guides. The 'cathédrales' off the coast at Porto Pollo in the Valinco, the waters around Bonifacio, Scandola, Ajaccio, Cargèse, and Propriano are particularly well renowned for being prime diving spots.
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.
Diving Calvi - A Piaghja
Résidence les Terrasses, Chemin de Rondoli, Calvi
Tel 06 75 72 79 09 or 06 80 60 66 55
DivingCalvi.fr
Calvi Plongée
Port de Plaisance, Calvi
Tel 04 95 65 14 05 or 06 07 89 77 63
PlongeeCastille.com
Diving Corsica Sports
Marine de Sant’Ambroggio
Tel 06 23 63 03 31
DivingCorsica.com
Algajola Sport et Natur
Résidence Bella Vista, Algajola
Tel 06 80 24 82 47
Algajola-Sportnature.com
Club Plongée Hippocampe
Port de Plaisance, Calvi
Tel 06 27 76 55 20
plongee-calvi-corse.com
Other watersports and Boat rental
There are various sites in the area where you can practise windsurfing, catamaran and dinghy sailing, waterskiing and jet skiing. Remember that waterskiing 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
Calvi-Voile.fr
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 Monti
Port de Plaisance, Calvi (next to port office on the marina)
Tel 04 95 65 21 26
Tramare-monti.com
Rents out motorboats of all sizes (also mopeds, quads and more unusual cars including Porsche, Smartcar & Mini Cooper).
Club Nautique de L’Ile Rousse
Route de Port, L'Ile Rousse
Tel 04 95 60 22 55
www.cnir.org
Offer courses in sailing, canoeing, sea kayaks and windsurfing and also equipment rental. They also provide jet-ski trips with qualified pilots.
Algajola Sport e Nature
Résidence Bella Vista, Algajola
Tel 06 80 24 82 47 / 06 83 85 15 31
Algajola-Sportenature.com
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
Plage de Calvi
Tel 06 26 17 04 97
Jet ski hire, bouée and banana rides.
Calvi-jet.fr
Corsica Jet-Loisirs
Restaurant les Dunes, Plage de Calvi
Tel 06 12 95 33 05
Jet ski hire and accompanied trips around the Revellata Peninsular and to Scandola.
corsica-jet-loisirs.com
Jet Loc
Route du Port, L'lle Rousse (Opposite the railway station)
Tel 06 18 88 56 90 or 06 16 07 10 15
Jet-ski.pro
Boat Trips
A boat trip as a passenger is a more relaxing introduction to the best of the coastline. Vedettes, pleasure boats that also operate as ferries are operated by many companies and so there is plenty of choice when it comes to exploring Corsica from the sea. Take a boat trip to one of the Agriates beaches, Girolata or Scandola on the west coast, inaccessible by car.
Colombo Line
Quai Landry, Calvi
Tel 04 95 65 32 10 / 04 95 65 03 40
Colombo-line.com
Full and half-day trips every day (in season) to Scandola and Girolata and once a week to Ajaccio
Catacalvi
Port de Plaisance, Calvi
Tel 04 95 62 81 21 or 06 79 98 30 28
Catacalvi.com
Full and half day cruises to Scandola, Désert des Agriates and along the coast from Calvi.
Calvi Evasion
Port de Plaisance, Calvi
Tel 07 87 13 59 95
Calvi-Evasion.com
Full or half day trips on board small and comfortable boats (max 12 people).
