Water Sports in Gironde, Dordogne and the Lot-et-Garonne

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Water Sports in Gironde, Dordogne and the Lot-et-Garonne

The 250 Km of Atlantic coastline, nearly 500 Km of lake shoreline and numerous rivers make Aquitaine an ideal place for watersports.Emergencie=

• Call: 1616
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Emergency telephone numbers in Dordogne & Gironde
• For information from the French government on safety while on the water (in French): Click here

Ocean-going Sports

Stations Voiles (Sailing Centres) along the coast belong to the France Station Voile, Nautisme et Tourisme network. Here one can get advice, rent equipment and make reservations for the many water sports, including diving, sailing, surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, canoeing and sea kayaking.

Sailing and surfing are the top two ocean-going sports on the south west coast of France.

Sailing

The French Sailing Federation (Féderation Française de Voile) organises and promotes sailing at national, regional and local levels. It regulates sailing schools in France and offers information about licencing and insurance.

• For the French Sailing Federation (Féderation Française de Voile) website: Click here 

Diving

Arcachon Bay (Bassin d'Arcachon) is popular with divers in the region and is accessible by boat and from the shore.

The French sporting federation in charge of scuba diving is the Fédération Française d'études et de Sports Sous-marins (FFESSM) which is a member of CMAS. The entry level qualification in the FFESSM system is the Niveau 1.

• Information (in French) from the FFESSM: Click here

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) website lists diving schools in France. Schools may or may not offer instruction in English. Contact the school directly. PADI entry level qualification is known as Open Water Diver.

• To search for diving schools in the Gironde, see the PADI website: Click here

Canoe-Kayaking

Though the coastal waters can have rather large waves, canoeing and kayaking are very popular ocean-going sports as well as fresh-water sports. Boats can be hired from a Station Voile or private vendor.

• The Fédération Francaise de Canoë Kayak (in French) has information on canoeing and kayaking in France.
• See The AngloFILE for English-speaking boat rental shops: Click here

Surfing

Surfing is believed to have been introduced to France in 1956 when two Californians brought a surfboard to Biarritz, which is a popular surfing spot; there are also surf spots and facilities further north, towards Arcachon.

The Aquitaine Regional Committee of Surfing (Le Comité Régional d’Aquitaine de Surf) promotes surfing in the region.

• For the Le Comité Régional d’Aquitaine de Surf website: Click here
• Information (in French) from the Féderation Française de Surf
• See The AngloFILE for local English-speaking surf schools: Click here

Fresh-Water Sports

The largest natural lake in France, Lac de Hourtin, is located in Aquitaine, northwest of Bordeaux. The lake, as well as many others in the region, offer opportunities for sailing, water skiing, pedal boating, canoeing and kayaking. 

• For a list of sports clubs in the area of Hourtin: Click here

Motorised Activities

Motorised watersports include jet skiing, water skiing, zodiac, parachute rides, wake-boarding. The driver of any craft with an engine more powerful than 6CV needs a licence. 

• For more information, see AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on Sailing and Boat Licences in France
• Information (in French) from the Fédération Française Motonautique

Related Information

• For information on water quality at beaches throughout Aquitaine (and France) from the French government: Click here
• For information on watersports organisations and clubs in the Medoc: Click here
• For the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on the coloured flag beach safety system: Click here

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