Yachting Art Magazine

A 16th-century relic identified at a depth of over 2,500 metres off the coast of Ramatuelle.

This is a first in the history of French underwater exploration: a shipwreck lying at a depth of more than 2,500 metres has just been located in waters under French jurisdiction. The discovery was made on 4 March 2025 during a seabed reconnaissance operation conducted by CEPHISMER (Centre expert plongée humaine et intervention sous la mer), part of the French Navy, off the coast of Ramatuelle in the Var department.

Initially motivated by technical expertise objectives, this exploratory mission led to the discovery of a merchant ship believed to date from the 16th century, preserved with its cargo. Following this initial identification, the Department of Underwater and Underwater Archaeological Research (DRASM), attached to the Ministry of Culture, confirmed the exceptional nature of the site.

The wreck, the deepest ever recorded in French waters, contains remarkable items such as anchors, artillery, amphorae and ceramics. These are all clues to a flourishing maritime trade in modern times and new avenues of research for underwater archaeology. Its deep-sea location also opens up unprecedented scientific prospects, both in terms of conservation and the analysis of extreme environments.

The first findings will be unveiled at a presentation on Wednesday 11 June at 2.30 p.m. on board the Alfred Merlin, a scientific vessel belonging to the Ministry of Culture. This event will be held as part of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), in partnership with the Maritime Prefecture of the Mediterranean.

Moored in Nice, at the Quai d'Entrecasteaux, the Alfred Merlin will open its doors exceptionally to accredited journalists to provide details of this exploration campaign, its preliminary results and the prospects for scientific and heritage development of the site.