Centre d’Activité Plongée Port-Vendres
Anse Gerbal, 66660 Port-Vendres, France, Port-Vendres, Pyrénées-Orientales, FRA
About the Center
The Centre d’Activité Plongée Port-Vendres, located in Port-Vendres, France, is a dive center certified by SSI, CMAS/FFESSM, and TDI. It offers a comprehensive range of courses, from introductory experiences like Discover Scuba Diving and foundational certifications such as Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver, to specialized programs like Enriched Air Nitrox, Boat Diving, and Wreck Diver. They also provide instructor-level training, including the Instructor Development Course and advanced technical diving certifications under TDI. Furthermore, they offer training as Moniteur Fédéral and Brevet d'État Plongée, catering to the full spectrum of training needs from recreational to professional levels.
The center's facilities include lockers, WiFi, a restaurant, a bar, equipment rental, and a dive shop. They provide air, nitrox, and trimix fills, facilitating advanced and technical diving practices. Diving activities are conducted via boat, and night dives are also organized. The center boasts a prime location on the Côte Vermeille, close to the Golfe du Lion Marine Nature Park, offering access to marine reserves and various dive sites. These include the Cerbère-Banyuls rocky areas and sites around Cap Béar, as well as renowned wrecks such as le Bananier (Alice Robert), le Saumur, and l’Astrée.
Centre d’Activité Plongée Port-Vendres is committed to responsible diving practices, prioritizing safety and environmental respect. The professional team, comprising qualified instructors like Tug, Nico, and Jules, imparts their knowledge and experience to ensure a safe and enriching experience for all divers, from beginners to the most experienced. The center also participates in events like the Paris Diving Show, providing opportunities to meet the team and discuss diving projects, trips, and training.
The center has a strong connection to the region and its marine biodiversity, encouraging divers to discover the marine reserve and the wrecks along the Catalan coast. Languages spoken at the center include French, English, German, and Catalan, facilitating communication with an international clientele. Services range from introductory dives for newcomers to technical and closed-circuit rebreather (CCR) diving courses, demonstrating exceptional versatility in meeting the demands of all diver levels.
Available Courses
11 cursosOpen Water Diver Course
Open Water Diver Course in Port-Vendres. Taught by certified instructors at Centre d’Activité Plongée Port-Vendres.
Advanced Open Water Course
Advanced Open Water Course in Port-Vendres. Taught by certified instructors at Centre d’Activité Plongée Port-Vendres.
Wreck Diver Course
Wreck Diver Course in Port-Vendres. Taught by certified instructors at Centre d’Activité Plongée Port-Vendres.
Découvertes
Une plongée de 20 minutes pour les plus de 12 ans, pour apprendre à respirer sous l'eau et découvrir l'environnement marin.
Plongeur Niveau 1
Certification FFESSM N1, pour plonger jusqu'à 20m sous supervision. Inclut 6 plongées et de la théorie.
Plongeur Encadré 40m-PE40
Pour les 14 ans et plus (sous conditions), N1 requis. Comprend 4 plongées et théorie.
Plongée latérale loisir
Spécialité SSI de Sidemount loisir, avec 5 plongées et théorie en 3 jours.
Formation Sidemount SDI ou TDI
Formation Sidemount avec certification SDI ou TDI, incluant matériel et gaz. 3 jours.
Triton Trimix Élémentaire - MOD 2
Formation TDI MOD2 avec recycleur Triton Trimix, pour des profondeurs allant jusqu'à 60m. Nécessite une formation Diluant Air. Minimum 4 jours.
Initiation Recycleur Triton
This half-day introduction to the Triton CCR is designed for divers who want to try rebreather diving before committing to a full course. The session covers machine assembly, pre-dive tests, cell calibration, and a supervised dive to 20 m for 60 minutes with an instructor. The Triton is the only mechanical CCR on the market built to CE EN 14143:2013 standard and certified to 100 m. It weighs 12 kg dive-ready. The absence of bubbles changes the interaction with marine life noticeably — it is the main reason people try it. The CAP Port-Vendres team uses the Triton as their regular CCR platform, so instruction here is built around hands-on familiarity with this specific machine. From FFESSM Niveau 2. The center can arrange machine rental for those who want to continue training.
Enriched Air Nitrox Course
Enriched Air Nitrox Course in Port-Vendres. Taught by certified instructors at Centre d’Activité Plongée Port-Vendres.
Services
Facilities
Specialties
Brands they work with
Destinations & trips
Recommended dive sites
The spots this centre offers its students
Gallery(12)
Climate
Annual average
Monthly historical data to plan your dives
User Reviews
Frequently asked
What people ask before booking
The center is approved by FFESSM (with international CMAS recognition), SSI, and TDI for technical diving. You can complete the full French federal path (N1 through N3) or the SSI recreational path, and TDI courses cover nitrox, sidemount, and CCR rebreather training.
Baptêmes for children start at age 8 (Baptême enfant, €89, max 6 m depth). The standard Baptême and Baptême Plus/Luxe are from age 12. The SSI Junior Open Water Diver program runs from age 10, with depth limits of 12 m for ages 10–12 and 18 m from age 12.
Yes for all scuba courses. A medical certificate of non-contraindication is required for all FFESSM and SSI training. For the standard Baptême (ages 12+), no medical certificate is needed. For children's scuba, parental authorization plus a medical certificate valid 6–12 months is required.
The fill station handles all mixes up to 300 bar, including air, nitrox, and trimix. Nitrox Base and Nitrox Confirmé courses are available through both FFESSM and TDI.
Yes. The center trains on the Triton CCR, a French-built mechanical rebreather certified to 100 m and weighing 12 kg dive-ready. The director Jules holds TDI instructor ratings for Triton Air Deco/Helitrox (MOD1) and Triton Mixed Gas (MOD2). Initiation dives (20 m, 60 min) start at €190; full MOD1 courses run a minimum of 5 days at €240/day.
The center's main vessel is Le Beast, a 30-seat boat fitted with new twin 300 CV motors in 2024. Dive trips head to the Réserve Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls and the wrecks along the Catalan coast. Departure is directly from the pontoon adjacent to the center.
Le P'tit Ponton is a restaurant on site, right next to the embarkation pontoon, with a terrace overlooking Cap Béar. It serves fish, seafood, tapas and burgers. The restaurant closes for winter (from around early November) and reopens in spring. Reservations by phone: +33 6 65 44 43 37.
Exploration pricing is listed separately on the tarifs page. The center offers guided and autonomous dives in the marine reserve and on the wrecks. Equipment rental is available for those who need it, and the fill station covers all gases including nitrox and trimix for experienced divers.
How to get there
Anse Gerbal, 66660 Port-Vendres, France, Port-Vendres, Pyrénées-Orientales, FRA