Official Reunion tourism overview for diving, reserve context, and seasonality.
Site Archéologique is a historic reef loop for beginners.
Site Archéologique is a historic reef loop for beginners.
Site Archéologique is a shallow heritage reef route off Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, where three canons and four anchors sit on a compact reef shelf. The site is an easy, beginner-friendly outing with a short, readable route and light gear demands, best for calm-day snorkeling or first dives. On settled west-coast days the relics and reef fish are easy to enjoy, but wind or swell can make the shallow shelf less comfortable.
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
4m - 6m
Depth Note
Historic relics lie on a reef between 4 and 6 m.
Best Season
Year-round; June to November is the most comfortable window.
Typical Conditions
Shallow west-coast reef with generally easy conditions, but comfort drops when wind or swell builds.
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Safety Notes
Keep buoyancy gentle over the relics, and watch for surface chop when the sea is up.
Legal Notes
Follow marine-reserve and heritage-site handling rules; do not touch or move the relics.
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
Good for first dives and easy guided training when the water is settled.
Snorkeling
Well suited to snorkeling on calm days because the route is shallow and compact.
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Planning answers for access, conditions, timing, and site logistics.
Last Updated
Research Sources
Official Reunion tourism overview for diving, reserve context, and seasonality.
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