It’s not hard to see why Greece has some of the best diving in the world. Greece’s waters are a host to seals, turtles, and eels. You get the chance to swim in the ruins of cities that have been underwater for thousands of years, as well as a number of ancient shipwrecks.
Up until 2020, diving was restricted in some areas of Greece. Only 3 years ago did Greek parliament vote to allow divers to visit shipwrecks over 50 years old. One reason for this was the fear of looting of valuable antiquities from the sea floor. Nowadays, thanks to new laws, you can visit underwater archeological sites, as long as you go with a certified guide. These new laws make it easier to access the wealth of stunning dive sites that Greece has to offer. We go through just a few of the top sites in this article.
Pavlopetri, Peleoponnese
The 5,000 year-old sunken city of Pavlopetri is found in Vatika Bay in the southern Peloponnese. The closest major city is Neapoli but most visitors like to explore the area from Elafonisos, which is known for its white sand beaches. Although you can’t technically dive at this site because of its UNESCO protections, you are able to view the site by snorkelling. The city operated for 2,000 years and represents one of Europe’s first “planned” cities, with both residential and commercial districts.
Zakynthos Island
Zakynthos is one of the top diving sites in the Ionian Islands. The island is known for its turquoise waters, and the most popular site to dive is the National Marine Park that starts in the Bay of Laganas and extends to the Strofades islands. These are ideal areas to see the endangered loggerhead turtles (also called the Caretta Caretta). This is where they lay their eggs in the breeding season during the summer. Divers here also have the chance to see the rare Mediterranean monk seal. The village of Keri is a popular starting point for dives, with at least a dozen dive sites. Here, you will find deep caves which are home to giant shrimps and slipper lobsters.
Amorgos Island
Amorgos island is found in the Cycladic island chain. Amorgos is best-known for its feature in the film The Big Blue, which shows the beauty of free-diving. Dive operators go from both of the ports on the island: Katapola and Aegiali. The reefs have great visibility and are home to barracuda and damselfish. Some of the best sites are close to Agios Pavlos Beach. Nikouria’s Cavern is known for its sponges and soft corals. From Amorgos, you can reach the island of Kinaros to dive and see the wreck of the cargo ship Manina 3, which has some pieces visible above the water. The wreck is now an artificial reef.
Crete
The southern edge of Crete has some of the best diving in the whole Mediterranean. Just east of Plakias is the beach of Skinaria, where you will find a peaceful bay with many treasures below the water’s surface. Here, you will find seagrass gorges and a steep drop-off that is home to moray eels and octopus. Only advanced divers can go into the underwater cavern. Alternatively, if you are near Chania in northwest Crete, you have to stop at the Elephant Cave. This partly-filled underwater cave is in the Drepano area and it known for its incredible stalagmites. For divers that go deeper into the cave, you can see the fossils of extinct elephants from millions of years ago.
Crete has some of the most unique and incredible marine life in Greece. Notably, Crete is known for its great underwater visibility, which makes it easy to see marine life even from a long way away. Among the fish you will find in Crete are the Cretan parrotfish, various types of sea breams and wrasses, damselfish, and red mullets.
It is not unusual to see lionfish, moray eels (watch out for their teeth), and even leerfish. While most websites give fame to the caretta caretta turtle and monk seal, these animals are endangered and it is very rare to see them on a dive. Thankfully, there is a lot more to see underwater in Crete!
Paleokastritsa, Corfu
Corfu is a hub for cavern diving. On Corfu’s northwestern coast, Paleokastritsa is a great diving starting point. The easiest dive here is the Hole of Ha, a simple cavern dive where you can see fossils of conch shells and stalactites. The unique part of Hole of Ha is that there is no roof. When you look up, you see trees that surround the hole in the mountainside. For more advanced divers, popular trips are to a dive site called “The Chimney” and Colovri Cave, which is a home to colorful shrimp. Also popular on Corfu is an accessible dive site off the northwest coast that is known as “The Monastery.” This site is great for all levels of divers and has remarkable caves.
When to Dive in Greece
Temperatures of the water in Greece are comfortable from June until September, at 22–26 degrees. This is the ideal time to dive. If you want to go in fall or spring, the water generally stays above 14 degrees. In the winter, the water is about 9 degrees. If you choose to bring your own suit, you can take a 3 to 5 millimeter wetsuit in the summer, or a thicker 5 to 7 millimeter wetsuit in the winter.
