Make Your Trip an Adventure, The Best Dive Sites in Greece

Do you love diving? 

Greece is a country with over 16.000 kilometers (9.942 miles) of coastline and has a lot offer to scuba diving enthusiasts. While scuba diving was limited for along time because of strict regulations, today it has been enjoying a surge in popularity. There are currently 129 dive sites listed in Greece, of which 56 are wall, 52 are reef and 30 are beach. There is also considerable life in the seas, particularly if you slow down and think small.

Now you have the opportunity to enjoy your dives in privacy, custom-tailored schedules, one-on-one service and of course to choose dive sites to suit your interests. You can charter a yacht which specializes in diving. Those yachts are completely equipped to fulfill the needs of the most demanding divers. On the other hand, any yacht in the fleet can coordinate with shore-based diving centers. Most dive centers are willing to drop off the divers at a different destination than where they will be picked up, thus allowing the non-divers to sail to a different anchorage if desired, while the others are diving. 

Not all members of the charter party have to be divers though. Since no superyacht is complete without a large collection of water toys – from inflatable slides to jetskis, the water toys cover every single angle of water fun. But I would recommend to non-certified divers to allow themselves to try Discover Scuba Diving, which is a short try-diving experience for adults and children aged 10 years and older. This introduces you to the basics of diving, but doesn’t certify you as a diver. The ‘DSD’ is usually a one-day or half-day activity, so it is a great option if you have been thinking about trying SCUBA for a while but don’t have much time while you are on holiday. It is also perfect for building up confidence in the water before jumping straight into a full course.

Let’s see the best scuba dive sites you can find in Greece during your vacation on a charter superyacht. As the list could be very long,  I will include the most famous destinations in the Aegean and Ionian Sea.

Aegean Sea

Kea is one the most beautiful islands of the Cyclades group, in the Aegean archipelago. Kea provides dives for every level. From a snorkeling trip around the island to technical dives to the worldwide famous wrecks in the area. Following a misjudgment by the captain on February 28, 1868 Patris slammed onto the reef at the island’s Koundouros bay. The steamer has been cut into two. The two pieces lie within short distance of each other. It is an unusual wreck as it is very old but still in amazing condition. The depth of the wreck is 28m (92ft) to 55m.(180ft)

As a volcanic island, Santorini offers exciting scuba diving possibilities. One of the best spots is Nea kameni, formed by a volcanic eruption. The Santa Maria wreck a 34 meter long (112ft) steel passenger ship that sank in the Taxiarches Bay in 1975, is 18m (59ft) under the surface and awaits divers, even those who lack a lot of experience. Furthermore, the nearby waters feature rocks, underwater lava formations and sea caves worth exploring.

Mykonos may be the Greek party island, but there is also a party under the waves too.  Sunk in the Southeastern region of Mykonos is the wreck of Anna II, a 62 meter long (230ft) cargo ship, which is a perfect playground for wreck diving experts. The ship, at the ideal depth of 25m (82ft), is still in great condition and is accessible for some exploration, but the surrounding area is equally captivating, especially the reef and its colonies of sponges.

In Milos, Polyaigos and Kimolos, you will dive on reefs, deep walls, caverns and canyons and afterwards you will take with you some wonderful memories. Some diving spots in Milos are Cape Vani, Llima and Rivari.

Cycladic diving has nearly 20differnt dive spots on the South West coast of Paros, on the South coast of Antiparos and on the small islands in between. The dive sites are ideal during North wind days when Meltemi blows in July and August. Then the visibility is exceptional. Some of the most famous dive sites are Panderonisi Cavern, Preza, Poseidon Eye, Tripiti, Labyrinth.

Ionian Sea

Corfu, Paleokastritsa, on the Northwest coast of Corfu, Paleokastritsa known for its beaches bordered by crystal-clear turquoise water. As such, the rocks and the reefs of the coastline nearby provide ideal underwater playgrounds for diving enthusiasts. Kolovri Beach is a favourite, as it hosts reefs up to 40m (131ft) in depth as well as an underwater archway. Colovri is by far the most famous dive site that Corfu has to offer. It is a 2000 sq meter island that is surrounded by an incredible maze of boulders, crevices, swim-throughs and so much more. This area is known for the schools of beautiful Anthia, Shrimp, Barracuda, Moray Eels and a host of other reef fish and critters. As you swim to the edge of this magnificent reef you‘ll be met with a steep drop off that goes down into the abyss. This dive site is truly awe-inspiring. Maximum depth at this location is 40m however, if you are a newbie then there is plenty to see and experience up in the shallows.

The Ionian island of Cephalonia is also an attractive destination thanks to its incredible coastline, spectacular beaches, and diverse nightlife. But for divers, it is the wreck of the HMS Perseus that does the trick. This British submarine built in 1929 sank during WWII in 1941, after striking an Italian mine, 11 Kilometres (6.8miles) off the coast. The wreck lies 52m (171ft) below the surface and is definitely a favourite with divers.

Visit Ammousa Bay in Lefkada, six caves with plenty of marine life. The maximum depth here is 30m (98ft). Poseidon Gate is a multi-level dive with maximum depth of 15m.The main attractions include unique rock formations such a cavern and swim throughs, as well as rich sea life – octopi, morays, barracuda.

Whatever you have on your mind, let us know! Together we can plan your next Greek mythical yachting experience including the best dive sites for you!