Sources · Destination Guide

La Rochelle and the Charente Islands (Re and Oleron)

Atlantic wrecks, tidal island coasts and maritime culture from one practical French base

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Research Sources

Destination Guide Sources For La Rochelle and the Charente Islands (Re and Oleron)

Reference links used to build and maintain this guide.

43 sources • Updated Sep 5, 2026

Written by DiveJourney. Built from public sources and local operator knowledge. Last updated Sep 5, 2026.

Ile de Re Tourism - Le Nautilus scuba outings - Official tourism listing for the Saint-Martin-de-Re FFESSM club, its June to September operating window, documentation requirements, equipment guidance, and representative sites.
IO Plongee - exploration diving - Operator source for Oleron exploration dives, tide and weather dependent site selection, level requirements, pricing, equipment rental, and deeper offshore supplements.
Les Joyeux Corsaires - environmental values - Operator source for tide, swell, wind and visibility constraints, low-impact shore operations, small groups, marine biology programming, and responsible-diving practices.
Ile de Re Tourism - getting to Ile de Re

Research Sources

Destination Guide Sources For La Rochelle and the Charente Islands (Re and Oleron)

Reference links used to build and maintain this guide.

43 sources • Updated Sep 5, 2026

Written by DiveJourney. Built from public sources and local operator knowledge. Last updated Sep 5, 2026.

Ile de Re Tourism - Le Nautilus scuba outings - Official tourism listing for the Saint-Martin-de-Re FFESSM club, its June to September operating window, documentation requirements, equipment guidance, and representative sites.
IO Plongee - exploration diving - Operator source for Oleron exploration dives, tide and weather dependent site selection, level requirements, pricing, equipment rental, and deeper offshore supplements.
Les Joyeux Corsaires - environmental values - Operator source for tide, swell, wind and visibility constraints, low-impact shore operations, small groups, marine biology programming, and responsible-diving practices.
Ile de Re Tourism - getting to Ile de Re

- Official source for bridge, regional bus and seasonal La Rochelle to Saint-Martin-de-Re sea-shuttle access.

Marennes Oleron Tourism - getting to Oleron - Official source for the free road bridge, regional bus routes and seasonal maritime links to Oleron.

Gironde Estuary and Pertuis Sea Marine Natural Park - Official marine park overview covering the protected seascape, estuaries, rocky and sediment habitats, nurseries, seabirds, migratory fish and marine mammals.

Ile de Re Tourism - coastal walks and cycling - Official source for Ile de Re coastal landscapes, salt marshes, pine forest and more than {{ 138 | distance:km }} of cycle routes.

IO Plongee - home - Operator overview for diving from La Cotiniere on Ile d'Oleron.

IO Plongee - training - Published training pathways, depth limits, equipment inclusion and condition-led scheduling.

IO Plongee - discovery - Published introductory dive format, minimum age, shallow beach departure and pricing.

IO Plongee - environment - Operator responsible-diving and marine-environment guidance.

Les Joyeux Corsaires - home - Operator overview for Chaucre cove, shore and boat diving, wrecks, grottos, training, ecology and aquarelaxation.

Les Joyeux Corsaires - prices - Published discovery, fin-snorkeling, training, aquarelaxation and environmental-contribution prices.

Les Joyeux Corsaires - discovery - Operator details for shallow cove discovery, ages, depths and family observation.

Sam Diving - dive day preparation - Operator guidance for documents, cylinders, weights, 7mm thermal protection, hood, delayed surface marker buoy and long surface intervals.

Subaqua Club La Rochelle - Local club source for apnea, scuba and fin-swimming training.

DRASSM - underwater cultural heritage - Official French cultural source for DRASSM's role under the Heritage Code in protecting underwater cultural heritage.

French public service - emergency at sea - Official guidance to use VHF channel 16 from a vessel, 196 from shore for emergencies at sea, and 18 or 112 for land or coastal emergencies.

DAN Europe - emergency support - Official DAN Europe emergency number and instruction to contact local emergency services first for life-threatening cases.

Hopital Saint-Louis, La Rochelle - Official hospital location and contact information.

CHU Bordeaux - hyperbaric medicine - Official regional specialist hyperbaric service information, including treatment of diving emergencies.

La Rochelle-Ile de Re Airport - Official airport site for current route and operating information.

La Rochelle Airport - public transport - Official bus information for central La Rochelle and Ile de Re.

La Rochelle Tourism - how to arrive - Official rail, airport, road and regional access guidance.

La Rochelle Tourism - local mobility - Official overview of local buses, boats, cycling, taxis and mobility products.

Ile de Re bridge tariffs - Official seasonal bridge eco-tax tariffs for private vehicles.

La Rochelle Agglomeration tourist tax - Official local tourist-tax portal and 2026 accommodation-tax information.

Ile d'Oleron tourist tax - Official local tourist-tax portal for Oleron.

Marennes Oleron Tourism - La Rochelle to Boyardville - Official source for the approximately 50-minute seasonal crossing, Fort Boyard route, tide-aware timetable and bicycle reservation rules.

Port of Saint-Denis-d'Oleron - mobility - Official source for buses, seasonal shuttles, bicycle access and maritime connections.

Ile de Re Tourism - fish locks - Official source for historic stone fish locks, low-tide interpretation and Pointe des Baleines.

Ile de Re Tourism - markets - Official guide to village markets and in-season schedules.

Marennes Oleron Tourism - heritage - Official overview of Fort Boyard, Chassiron, Brouage, Chateau-d'Oleron, Fort Louvois, fish weirs and the wreck-rich pertuis.

Marennes Oleron Tourism - island overview - Official overview of Oleron's forests, citadel, fishing harbor, lighthouse and west coast.

Fort-Royer guided oyster-farm visit - Official tourism listing for guided oyster-farming and nature interpretation.

Fort-Royer oyster and nature site - Official tourism listing for the traditional oyster village and nature site.

Aquarium La Rochelle - Official source for La Rochelle's major all-weather marine attraction.

France-Visas - short stay - Official French visa source for short-stay rules and the 90 days in any 180-day limit.

France-Visas - arrival in France - Official passport, supporting-document and arrival guidance for non-EU visitors.

European Commission - EES and ETIAS - Official April 2026 update on EES operation and the expected later-2026 ETIAS rollout.

Ile de Re Tourism - weather and climate - Official tourism source describing a temperate oceanic climate with mild, sunny summers and gentle winters.

Meteo-France - La Rochelle-Pallice marine forecast - Official operational marine forecast for wind, sea state, swell and coastal conditions near the destination.

Destination hero photo by Xavier Foucrier - Photographer profile: https://unsplash.com/@xavierfoucrier