Centre d’Activité Plongée Port-Vendres
Anse Gerbal, 66660 Port-Vendres, France, Port-Vendres, Pyrénées-Orientales, FRA
Sobre o Centro
Le Centre d’Activité Plongée Port-Vendres, situé à Port-Vendres, France, est un centre de plongée certifié SSI, CMAS/FFESSM et TDI. Il propose une gamme complète de cours, allant des expériences d'initiation comme le Baptême de plongée et les certifications fondamentales telles que Open Water Diver et Advanced Open Water Diver, à des programmes spécialisés comme Enriched Air Nitrox, Boat Diving et Wreck Diver. Ils dispensent également une formation de niveau instructeur, y compris l'Instructor Development Course et des certifications avancées en plongée technique sous TDI. De plus, ils offrent des formations de Moniteur Fédéral et Brevet d'État Plongée, couvrant ainsi l'ensemble des besoins de formation, du loisir au niveau professionnel.
Les installations du centre comprennent des casiers, le WiFi, un restaurant, un bar, la location d'équipement et une boutique de plongée. Ils fournissent des remplissages d'air, de nitrox et de trimix, facilitant les pratiques de plongée avancées et techniques. Les activités de plongée se déroulent en bateau et des plongées de nuit sont également organisées. Le centre bénéficie d'un emplacement privilégié sur la Côte Vermeille, à proximité du Parc Naturel Marin du Golfe du Lion, offrant un accès à des réserves marines et à divers sites de plongée. Ceux-ci incluent les zones rocheuses de Cerbère-Banyuls et les sites autour du Cap Béar, ainsi que des épaves renommées comme le Bananier (Alice Robert), le Saumur et l’Astrée.
Le Centre d’Activité Plongée Port-Vendres s'engage dans des pratiques de plongée responsables, privilégiant la sécurité et le respect de l'environnement. L'équipe professionnelle, composée d'instructeurs qualifiés comme Tug, Nico et Jules, transmet ses connaissances et son expérience pour garantir une expérience sûre et enrichissante à tous les plongeurs, des débutants aux plus expérimentés. Le centre participe également à des événements tels que le Salon de la Plongée de Paris, offrant des occasions de rencontrer l'équipe et de discuter de projets de plongée, de voyages et de formation.
Le centre entretient une forte connexion avec la région et sa biodiversité marine, encourageant les plongeurs à découvrir la réserve marine et les épaves le long de la côte catalane. Les langues parlées au centre comprennent le français, l'anglais, l'allemand et le catalan, facilitant la communication avec une clientèle internationale. Les services vont des baptêmes de plongée pour les nouveaux venus aux cours de plongée technique et de recycleur (CCR), démontrant une polyvalence exceptionnelle pour répondre aux exigences de tous les niveaux de plongeurs.
Cursos Disponíveis
11 cursosCurso Open Water Diver
The SSI Open Water Diver at CAP Port-Vendres includes eLearning, certification, and 7 dives over 3.5 days. The course runs in the natural marine environment of the Côte Vermeille — the rocky bottoms and the waters of the Parc Naturel Marin du Golfe du Lion — from the practical sessions onward. eLearning is done through the MySSI app before the in-water sessions begin. The full rental package covers fins, wetsuit, BCD, regulator, dive computer, and SMB. Certification is included in the price, which means no additional SSI fees to pay. From age 14 (Junior OWD available from age 10 at the same price). Medical certificate required. The qualification is recognized worldwide and certifies diving to 18 m.
Curso Advanced Open Water
The SSI Advanced Adventurer at CAP Port-Vendres runs 6 dives over 3 days, covering multiple specialty areas — including deep diving, wreck diving, and night diving options that make direct use of the Catalan coast's dive sites. The eLearning component and full certification are included in the price. The rental package for this course covers fins, wetsuit, BCD and regulator. The course builds directly on the Open Water qualification and introduces divers to the variety of diving available from Port-Vendres — the wrecks, the reserve, and the deeper rocky terrain that the center regularly uses for exploration dives. Medical certificate required. No minimum age listed beyond OWD prerequisite.
Curso Wreck Diver
The SSI Wreck Diving specialty runs 2 dives over 1 day and uses the actual wrecks of the Catalan coast that CAP Port-Vendres regularly dives for exploration. eLearning kit and certification registration are purchased separately (€70 per specialty kit, with discounts from 2 kits upward). Port-Vendres has historical wreck sites along this stretch of coastline — the center uses these for both exploration and training. Equipment rental is not included in the specialty price. Medical certificate required. The course is a natural complement to the Advanced Adventurer program for divers who want to focus specifically on wreck technique.
Baptêmes
The standard Baptême at CAP Port-Vendres is a 20-minute dive in the Parc Naturel Marin du Golfe du Lion, conducted in the open sea from the boat. The ratio is one instructor to one student — no group situation, the monitor's full attention goes to the single person with them. That format makes a real difference for anyone who is nervous about the water or the equipment. The dive takes place at a maximum depth of 6 m in natural surroundings, over the rocky bottoms typical of the Côte Vermeille. The sea trip runs about two hours in total. Equipment is fully provided — there is nothing to bring except a swimsuit and willingness. From age 12. No medical certificate needed for this entry-level format. The center also offers the Baptême Plus at €139 (30 minutes) and the Baptême Luxe at €195 (40 minutes) for those who want more time in the water before deciding whether to pursue a full course.
Plongeur Niveau 1
The FFESSM Niveau 1 at CAP Port-Vendres covers 6 dives over 3 days plus theory, conducted in the natural environment of the Côte Vermeille — not in a pool. The qualification certifies diving to 20 m under instructor supervision and carries international 1-star CMAS recognition, so the card works in most countries. The course runs on the rocky bottoms and in the waters of the Parc Naturel Marin du Golfe du Lion from the first session. Fins, wetsuit, BCD and regulator are included in the rental package. Computer, SMB and torch are available at €18 extra. Price is €450 plus FFESSM licence fees of €65 (€45 for under-16s). From age 12, with a valid medical certificate of non-contraindication. The center notes that additional dives are sometimes needed — validation is not guaranteed at completion of the standard program.
Plongeur Encadré 40m-PE40
The FFESSM Niveau 2 certifies autonomous diving to 20 m and guided diving to 40 m, with 2-star CMAS international recognition. At CAP Port-Vendres the course runs over 10 dives across 5 days, with theory included, in the open water of the Côte Vermeille. The dive sites used draw on the center's regular exploration territory — the rocky bottoms and marine protected areas around Port-Vendres. Fins, wetsuit, BCD and regulator rental is included. Computer, SMB and torch cost an extra €45 for the full course. Price is €650 plus FFESSM licence (€65) and certification fee (€25). From age 16, N1 required, with medical certificate.
Recreational Sidemount
The SSI Recreational Sidemount course at CAP Port-Vendres runs 5 dives over 3 days plus a theory session. Equipment rental is not included in the course price. eLearning kit and certification are purchased separately. Sidemount is a prerequisite for the Triton CCR courses at this center when run in sidemount configuration, which gives this recreational-level certification a practical pathway into the more advanced technical and rebreather programs the center offers. Medical certificate required. The center also offers TDI Sidemount (€450, 3 days, certification €65 extra, with gear and gas included) for those wanting the technical diving certification track.
Formation Sidemount SDI ou TDI
The full MOD1 CCR course on the Triton runs a minimum of 5 days, covering theory and diving to a maximum of 40 m in training. Oxygen and soda lime are included in the daily rate. TDI certification is €65 extra; FFESSM licence and certification are additional if going the French federal route. Jules, the center director, holds TDI instructor credentials for Triton Air Deco/Helitrox (MOD1) and Triton Mixed Gas (MOD2) — this is not a course taught by someone who trained on another CCR and crossed over. Machine rental is available at €60 per day for students who don't own a Triton. From FFESSM Niveau 3 plus Nitrox Confirmé. If the course is run in sidemount configuration, Sidemount certification is required first. The price is per day; total cost varies with number of days required.
Triton Trimix Elémentaire - MOD 2
The MOD2 course takes CCR divers into trimix territory, with training depths of 60 m under TDI standards or 70 m under FFESSM. The program runs a minimum of 4 days with 6 dives plus theory. All gases and consumables are included in the daily rate. This is the deep-gas CCR qualification, and teaching it requires specific credentials. Jules holds the TDI CCR Triton Mixed Gas Instructor rating (MOD2), which is the qualification specifically required for this level of instruction on this machine. CAP Port-Vendres is the base for this kind of training on the Côte Vermeille. Prerequisite is completion of the Triton Diluant Air course on any CCR platform. Sidemount certification required if training in sidemount configuration. Machine rental at €60/day available.
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.
Curso Nitrox
The Nitrox Base course at CAP Port-Vendres covers one dive plus theory and is available under both FFESSM and TDI certification pathways. When combined with another course running simultaneously, the price drops to €70. Given that the center has a full mixed-gas fill station (up to 300 bar), nitrox is genuinely available for follow-on dives once certified. The course is a practical add-on for divers completing recreational courses who want to extend their bottom time on the rocky reef and wreck sites around Port-Vendres. No minimum age listed beyond standard prerequisite. Price is for training only, excluding licence and certification fees if applicable.
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Iniciar SessãoFrequently 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