Diving in Southern Corsica has a very special flavour, blending brilliant light, warm crystal-clear water and underwater landscapes that seem sculpted purely for the pleasure of the eye. From Bella Sotta, it is easy to reach the two dive centres based in Palombaggia or the one located in Bonifacio.
I personally learned to dive more than fifteen years ago, at the far end of Palombaggia, with Kalliste Plongée, and I still vividly remember the feeling of my very first immersion in those almost unreal blue waters. Since then, I return regularly, and every stay at Bella Sotta revives this ritual: a few days of exploration around the Cerbicale Islands, followed by an escape towards the cliffs of Bonifacio, like a deep breath in the heart of summer.
In Palombaggia, the two dive centres Kalliste Plongée and Dolfinu Biancu share the same philosophy: professional, simple and warm hospitality, with the feeling that everything is designed to keep diving a pure pleasure. The exploration sites are the same, centred around the Cerbicale Islands.
With Dolfinu Biancu, we later discovered another way of enjoying these outings. As we love Acciaghju Beach, we developed the habit of leaving the family on this quiet beach while I headed out to dive early in the morning, around 8 a.m. We arrive before everyone else, park easily, enjoy the silence of the early hours, then head out for a double dive while the family organises their morning between swimming and breakfast at the beach restaurant. This blend of simplicity and freedom makes the diving experience even more enjoyable.
Bella Sotta offers an incomparable advantage for diving enthusiasts: its central position between Palombaggia and Bonifacio. One of the true pleasures of staying at Bella Sotta is the ease with which you can move from one underwater world to another. Diving from Palombaggia allows you to explore the Cerbicale Islands, while Bonifacio Plongée, located just before the harbour, opens the door to a completely different setting: the Lavezzi Islands Nature Reserve, with its even richer biodiversity.
During one of our recent stays, I alternated one week diving from Palombaggia and another from Bonifacio. It created a perfect rhythm, almost a journey within the journey, where each day at sea tells a different story.
From Bella Sotta, the drive is straightforward and often smoother, making it easy to reach each dive centre early in the morning without stress. This is a real advantage for enjoying double dives, which usually start at dawn. You leave the house in the cool silence of the maquis, park easily before the crowds arrive, and then head out for a few hours offshore among the islands. The return is always relaxed, just before lunchtime—a perfect moment to rejoin the family, rest a little, then head back to the beach or discover another corner of Southern Corsica.
Kalliste Plongée – Palombaggia
Route de Palombaggia, 20137 Porto-Vecchio
Approximately 25 minutes from Bella Sotta.
Dolfinu Biancu – Tamaricciu
Tamaricciu Beach, 20137 Porto-Vecchio
20 minutes from Bella Sotta.
Bonifacio Plongée – Bonifacio Harbour
Quai Banda del Ferro, 20169 Bonifacio
Approximately 25 minutes from Bella Sotta.