At A l’Eau Rando, the first structured snorkeling tours in Corsica
When Romain Prodhomme first arrived in Corsica as a lifeguard, he had no idea that his life would take a snorkeling turn on the “Island of Beauty”.
After months of beach surveillance, the young man discovered scuba diving and developed a passion for the Corsican seabed. With his instructor certification in hand, he returned to Corsica to introduce people to the local marine life and satisfy his thirst for immersion. He pursued this exciting activity for 8 years, and through his dives, he realized the untapped potential for snorkeling tours on the island. “In France, snorkeling with fins, mask, and snorkel is not yet fully recognized as a worthy aquatic activity, even though it possesses all the advantages, especially in terms of accessibility and ease of implementation. Many countries have understood this for a long time!” notes Romain Prodhomme. The instructor also aims to offer snorkeling trips for more experienced hikers who wish to explore deeper sites.
A l’Eau Rando welcomed nearly 500 snorkelers during its first season in 2015, and the manager aims to double that number for the current season, which is off to a good start. Between passing tourists, youth groups, and other visitors, the instructor has no downtime, and if he finds himself without activities, he assists the neighboring diving center’s team, with whom he has a good working relationship.
The two-in-one Easybreath mask for more accessible and comfortable tours
A pioneer at heart, Romain Prodhomme chose to equip his clients with the new Easybreath masks, making snorkeling tours more comfortable and accessible to everyone. A l’Eau Rando’s clients unanimously appreciate the comfort of this mask, which offers a wider field of vision and the undeniable advantage of limiting fogging. “The breathing cavity is separated from the visual cavity, so you can breathe through your mouth and/or nose.” It’s a small revolution in snorkeling equipment, making the activity more reassuring and accessible. Note that the mask is not designed for use in freediving.
Snorkeling is much more practical than diving for guided tours because commentary can be provided on the surface and “on the spot” following an observation throughout the tour.
Two-hour outings take place at a suitable site, less than 10 minutes away by boat, allowing for 45 minutes to 1 hour of surface exploration in complete safety. Fifteen minutes of free swimming is offered for participants to enjoy at their leisure.
Capo Rosso: an idyllic snorkeling site
To reach the magnificent site of Capo Rosso, it takes about 20 minutes by boat. Romain has chosen idyllic spots to explore in shallow water and sheltered from the swell, sites teeming with damselfish, sea breams, schools of Mediterranean rainbow wrasse, as well as baby groupers that can be regularly observed, and dolphins for the luckiest. The guide helps you discover colorful sponges, encrusting anemones, and moray eels…
A short boat ride is planned between the two immersions to enjoy the enchanting setting of the rocky headland of Capo Rosso, which includes numerous arches and caves in red porphyry dominated by the Genoese tower that rises to 330 meters.
