Explore the best places to dive in Greece. 42 dive sites with real reviews and ratings from divers.
Santorini, Cyclades
Adiavates Cave is a volcanic cavern carved into the southern coast of Santorini, accessible by boat from Akrotiri. The entrance opens at around 6 metres and the cavern extends roughly 30 metres back into the cliff, with a maximum depth in the chamber of about 18 metres. A large air pocket forms at the back of the cave, and divers can surface inside the rock to look up at vaulted volcanic ceilings before continuing the dive. Light entering from the entrance creates dramatic blue shafts that photographers prize, and the volcanic walls are colonised with red sponges, encrusting bryozoans and small soft corals in shaded zones. Marine life inside the cave is dominated by cardinalfish that hover in tight schools just inside the dim entrance, alongside resident scorpionfish and slipper lobster tucked into cracks. Outside, the reef hosts common octopus, ornate wrasse and dusky grouper. The cavern is short and well-lit relative to true cave systems, making it suitable for intermediate divers, but a good torch is essential.
Santorini, Cyclades
Akrotiri Reef lies just off Cape Akrotiri at the southern rim of Santorini's caldera and is one of the most-dived sites in the Cyclades. The dive is built around a long volcanic ridge that begins at around 6 metres and steps down through a series of black-rock plateaus to a sandy interface at roughly 35 metres. The dark volcanic substrate gives the reef a striking aesthetic and creates contrast with the sponges, soft corals and sea fans that colonise its cracks. Resident fish life includes dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common two-banded sea bream, painted comber, ornate wrasse and damselfish; in late summer pelagic schools of barracuda, amberjack and Atlantic bonito sweep through the deeper edge. The reef sits within Santorini's active geothermal field, so divers occasionally see streams of bubbles emerging from cracks and feel mildly warm patches near the substrate. The site is exposed when the meltemi blows from the north, but on calm days conditions are forgiving and visibility regularly exceeds 25 metres.
Mykonos, Cyclades
The Anna II is a cargo ship sunk as an artificial reef off the south coast of Mykonos. The vessel sits upright on a sandy bottom at approximately 30 metres, with the deck around 22 metres and the wheelhouse coming up to about 18 metres. The hull is largely intact and easy to navigate around the perimeter, with the holds open and accessible at the cargo doors for experienced wreck divers but no penetration required for a satisfying dive. Several years on the bottom have allowed encrusting growth to take hold: the rails and superstructure host sponges, hydroids and soft corals, while the wheelhouse interior has become a refuge for scorpionfish and a resident dusky grouper. Schools of damselfish and salema swirl around the masts, and large common octopus shelter in the engine-room debris. Current is usually weak in the lee of the island, but can pick up when the meltemi blows. The site is reached by boat from Mykonos town or Platis Gialos in roughly 15 minutes.
Rhodes, Dodecanese
Anthony Quinn Bay is a small protected cove on the east coast of Rhodes, immediately south of Faliraki, named after the Mexican-American actor who reportedly purchased land in the area while filming The Guns of Navarone in 1961. The bay is dived from shore or by boat: a shallow rocky shoreline drops gently into a sandy and rocky bottom that descends in stages to about 22 metres at the mouth of the bay. The geometry of two enclosing headlands keeps surface conditions calm and currents weak even when the meltemi blows from the north, making this one of the most reliable training and check-out sites in the Dodecanese. Marine life is rich and varied: dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, two-banded sea bream, damselfish, painted comber, scorpionfish, ornate wrasse and seasonal schools of salema are all routinely seen. Patches of seagrass on the sandy floor host pipefish and the occasional razorfish. Visibility regularly exceeds 25 metres in summer and autumn.
Antiparos, Cyclades
Antiparos Blue Cave sits at the southern tip of Antiparos, accessible by boat from Antiparos town or Paros. The cavern entrance opens at about 4 metres beneath the cliff and the chamber extends roughly 20 metres into the rock, with a maximum interior depth of around 18 metres at the back wall. The cave is short and well-lit, with strong sun penetration through the entrance creating the characteristic luminous blue tone after which the site is named. Walls are colonised by red sponges and yellow cluster anemones in the dimmer recesses, while cardinalfish hover in tight schools just inside the entrance. Outside, the reef hosts dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus and ornate wrasse along a stepped rock slope leading to a sandy bottom around 22 metres. The shallow depth, calm conditions and short cavern length make this an excellent dive for beginners just past open-water level under guide supervision, while still rewarding more experienced divers with photography opportunities.
Santorini, Cyclades
Aspronisi, the small uninhabited islet on the western edge of the Santorini caldera, offers some of the most dramatic wall diving in the Cyclades. The island's outer face drops in a near-vertical wall from the surface to well past 40 metres; recreational dives typically work the upper section between 8 and 35 metres. The white pumice substrate gives Aspronisi its name (literally 'White Island') and creates a striking contrast with the deep blue water and colourful sponge gardens. Sea fans of Eunicella cavolinii and yellow cluster anemones grow on the deeper overhangs, while the shallows host dense beds of seagrass. Resident fish life includes dusky grouper, brown meagre, Mediterranean moray, painted comber and large schools of damselfish; pelagic visitors include amberjack, bonito and, in late summer, the occasional barracuda school. Because Aspronisi sits exposed on the open caldera, currents can run moderately strong and the meltemi can render the site undivable in summer. The dive is best kept for advanced divers with drift-diving experience.
Kissamos, Crete
Balos Lagoon, at the northwest tip of Crete near Kissamos, is one of the most photographed beaches in the Mediterranean, an immense shallow lagoon between the Gramvousa peninsula and the small Tigani islet. The lagoon is shallow throughout, with most of the area between 1 and 5 metres, and the diving extension reaches a maximum of around 18 metres outside the lagoon mouth where the sandy bottom of the bay drops away. Inside the lagoon the substrate is fine white sand mixed with crushed shell, occasionally broken by patches of Posidonia seagrass that support pipefish, sea hares and small flatfish. The deeper sandy bottom outside hosts common stingray, weever fish and the occasional sole, while small rocky outcrops near the entrance attract scorpionfish, common octopus and ornate wrasse. The dive is shallow, calm and best suited to entry-level divers, refresher dives or as a snorkel-grade pairing with a Gramvousa boat trip.
Karystos, Central Greece
Cape Bouros lies at the southern tip of Evia, the long island that runs along the eastern flank of central mainland Greece. The cape is fully exposed to the open Aegean and to the current that funnels through the South Evian Gulf, creating a high-energy environment that supports strong fish life. The reef descends in stepped ridges from a shallow plateau at 6 metres to a sandy interface at around 30 metres, with the rocky structure heavily fissured and dotted with overhangs. Resident species include dusky grouper, brown meagre, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, scorpionfish, slipper lobster, ornate wrasse, painted comber and damselfish, with seasonal pelagic visits from amberjack, bonito and barracuda schools. Currents are typically moderate and can run stronger when the meltemi peaks in July and August; the dive is best suited to advanced open-water divers with drift experience. Visibility regularly exceeds 20 metres in summer. Boat access is from Karystos, on the southern tip of Evia. The site is a regular stop for Athens-based dive day-trips, since Evia is connected to the mainland by a short bridge at Chalkida and Karystos is reachable by car ferry from Marmari.
Sounion, Attica
Cape Sounion sits at the southern tip of the Attic peninsula, roughly 70 kilometres from central Athens, and is crowned by the 5th-century BC Temple of Poseidon, the Doric marble temple immortalised by Lord Byron. Diving is conducted on the rocky reefs and walls beneath the cape, where the substrate descends in steps from a shallow shelf at 6 to 8 metres to a sandy interface at around 28 metres. The waters of the cape sit within an underwater archaeological zone, and although diving is permitted, the entire area is monitored by the Greek Ministry of Culture and any artefact whatsoever must be left untouched and reported. Resident marine life along the walls includes dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, painted comber, ornate wrasse, scorpionfish and damselfish, with seasonal pelagic visits from amberjack and bonito. Currents off the cape can be moderate because of the exposed headland, and the meltemi wind from the north renders the site undivable on its windier days. Boat access is from Lavrio.
Naxos, Cyclades
Cathedral Cave on the southern coast of Naxos earns its name from a pair of natural openings in the cavern ceiling that allow shafts of sunlight to penetrate the dim interior, lighting the chamber the way a clerestory lights a Gothic nave. The cave is reached by boat from the south coast and divers enter at around 8 metres into a wide chamber that extends back roughly 25 metres, with a maximum interior depth of about 22 metres. The cavern is large, well-lit from above, and short enough to remain inside the cavern-zone definition, making it suitable for intermediate open-water divers with a good torch. Walls are colonised by red sponges, yellow cluster anemones and bryozoans in the deeper recesses, while cardinalfish hover in tight schools in the dim corners. Outside the cave, the reef wall hosts dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, ornate wrasse, common octopus and the occasional school of damselfish swirling in the lee of the headland.
Chania, Crete
Around the entrance to the Venetian harbour of Chania, on the northwest coast of Crete, lies a scattered cluster of small wrecks and debris fields dating mainly to the German occupation and the Battle of Crete in 1941. The remains include barge hulls, landing craft fragments and miscellaneous metal structure spread across a soft-bottom plain at 10 to 18 metres. Because many of these objects are formally classified as antiquities of the period of war, the sites are accessible only through licensed Cretan dive operators who hold the appropriate permits, and removal of any artefact is strictly forbidden under Greek law. The dive itself is well suited to intermediate divers: depths are moderate, currents minimal in the lee of the harbour, and the wrecks form artificial reefs that attract dusky grouper, comber, painted comber, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, and seasonal schools of bogue and salema. Visibility varies between 8 and 15 metres depending on harbour traffic and recent weather. Because of the historical sensitivity, briefings emphasise look-but-do-not-touch etiquette.
Corfu, Ionian
Colovri Rock, also rendered Kolovri, is a pyramidal pinnacle that rises from the open Ionian Sea off the west coast of Corfu, near Paleokastritsa. The pinnacle climbs from a sandy bottom at around 40 metres to break the surface as a small islet, allowing wall-diving from the surface to 35 metres on its outer face and a circular dive plan around its perimeter. The walls are heavily fissured limestone with overhangs, cracks and small caverns, colonised by sea fans of Eunicella cavolinii in the deeper sections and yellow cluster anemones in the shaded recesses. Resident species include dusky grouper, brown meagre, Mediterranean moray, scorpionfish, common octopus and slipper lobster, and the open-water position attracts pelagic visits from amberjack, bonito and seasonal barracuda schools. Currents can be moderate to strong because the pinnacle is fully exposed on the open Ionian, and the dive is reserved for advanced open-water divers with drift experience. Visibility regularly exceeds 30 metres.
Agia Pelagia, Crete
El Greco Reef sits a short boat ride from Agia Pelagia on the north coast of Crete, west of Heraklion. The site is built around a rocky reef structure rising from a sandy plain at around 25 metres to a shallow plateau at 8 metres, threaded by a series of swim-throughs and short tunnels carved by ancient water flow. Divers typically descend along the reef wall, work through the cracks and arches, then drift back along the sand-meets-rock interface. The site is named after the Cretan-born Renaissance painter Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco). Resident species include dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, painted comber, scorpionfish and damselfish, with seasonal pelagic visits from amberjack and bonito in late summer. Sea fans and sponges colonise the shadier walls. Currents are usually weak, making the dive accessible to intermediate divers with good buoyancy, and the Aegean visibility regularly exceeds 25 metres in summer and autumn.
Chania, Crete
Elephant Cave, locally known as Spilio Elefantas, is one of the most celebrated dive sites on the Akrotiri peninsula of Crete. The cave entrance opens at roughly 10 metres beneath a vertical cliff wall and tunnels back into the rock for approximately 130 metres, with the deepest point of the main chamber reaching about 40 metres. The site became internationally known in 1999 after Greek researchers documented Pleistocene-era straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus) bones and tusks fossilised on the dry chamber floor, evidence of a time when sea level was much lower and the cave was above water. Inside the dark chamber stalactites hang from the ceiling, and divers ascend into a large air-filled section where the fossils remain in situ. Marine life along the outer wall and entrance is rich with Mediterranean moray (Muraena helena), dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), scorpionfish, common octopus, and the occasional school of barracuda. Because of the depth and overhead environment, the dive is reserved for experienced divers with solid buoyancy and a guided briefing; the fossils themselves may not be touched or removed under Greek antiquities law, and access is via licensed Cretan operators only.
Glyfada, Attica
Off Glyfada, on the so-called Athens Riviera south of the capital, lies a small artificial reef built from concrete blocks and decommissioned structures placed on a sandy bottom at around 22 metres. The site was deployed to provide structure for marine life on what is otherwise a featureless soft-bottom plain along the Saronic Gulf, and it has matured into a compact biological hotspot. The blocks are colonised by encrusting sponges, hydroids, bryozoans and small soft corals, and the cracks between them shelter common octopus, scorpionfish, small dusky grouper and the occasional moray. Schools of damselfish, salema, two-banded sea bream and ornate wrasse circle the structure, while sandy patches between the blocks host weever fish, common stingray and the occasional flatfish. Visibility is more limited than the open Aegean, typically 8 to 15 metres depending on weather and city runoff, but the site is calm, accessible and ideal as an Athens-based check-out dive. Boat access is from Glyfada or Vouliagmeni marinas.
Kea, Cyclades
HMHS Britannic was the youngest of the three Olympic-class ocean liners and a sister ship of RMS Titanic. Requisitioned by the Royal Navy as a hospital ship in the First World War, she struck a German mine on 21 November 1916 in the Kea Channel south of Athens and sank in approximately 55 minutes; thirty crew members were lost and her sinking remains the largest passenger-ship loss of the war. The wreck rests on its starboard side at a depth of approximately 122 metres in the Kea Channel, at a position recorded after the dive expedition by Jacques Cousteau in 1976 and re-surveyed by subsequent technical-diving teams. The Britannic is by far the largest ocean-liner wreck in the world that is recreationally accessible and one of the most demanding technical dives in the Mediterranean. Diving is limited to credentialed mixed-gas trimix teams operating under permits from the Greek government and the wreck's private owner, who has acquired the title; the site is also a war grave under UK and Greek law and removal of any artefact is forbidden. Visibility in the Kea Channel routinely exceeds 30 metres.
Kefalonia, Ionian
HMS Perseus was a British Parthian-class submarine that struck an Italian mine on 6 December 1941 off the coast of Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea while operating against Axis shipping. Famously, stoker John Capes survived the sinking and escaped from the bottom using a Davis Submerged Escape Apparatus, an event long doubted but later confirmed when divers in 1997 found the conning-tower hatch open exactly as Capes described. The submarine rests upright at approximately 52 metres on a sandy bottom in the Ionian, with the hull largely intact and recognisable: deck gun, conning tower, hatches and propellers are all visible. Because the Perseus is a war grave under UK law, removal of any artefact is forbidden, and penetration of the hull is not permitted; visits are restricted to credentialed technical divers operating in mixed-gas trimix configuration with appropriate permits and licensed local operators. The Ionian visibility routinely exceeds 25 metres in summer, and the wreck has developed an encrusting community of sponges and small soft corals.
Halkidiki, Central Macedonia
Off the Halkidiki peninsula in northern Greece lies an amphora field of Hellenistic-period transport jars, scattered across a sandy slope between roughly 22 and 30 metres. The amphorae are the surviving cargo of an ancient merchant ship whose wooden hull has long decomposed, leaving the ceramic vessels partly upright and partly buried in the sand. Under Greek antiquities law these objects are state property and the entire area is classified as an underwater archaeological zone; diving is permitted only with licensed local operators holding the appropriate permit, in small groups under direct guide supervision, and nothing may be touched, removed or photographed for commercial use. Marine life on and around the amphorae is rich: octopus often shelter inside the jar necks, while small reef fish such as scorpionfish, painted comber and ornate wrasse hunt along the edges of the field. The northern Aegean has slightly lower visibility than the Cyclades, typically 12 to 18 metres, and water temperature drops earlier in autumn.
Corfu, Ionian
Hole of Ha is a striking vertical chimney swim-through cut through a cliff on the northwest coast of Corfu. Divers enter through an opening at around 6 metres on the cliff face and descend through the chimney for approximately 18 metres of vertical swim, exiting in open water at the cliff base around 24 metres. The interior of the chimney is well-lit by light entering from the entrance and the underwater exit, keeping the dive within the cavern definition for trained intermediate divers. The walls are colonised by red sponges, encrusting bryozoans and the occasional yellow cluster anemone in the dimmer recesses. Outside the chimney the reef wall hosts dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, ornate wrasse, painted comber and scorpionfish, with the sandy floor at 28 metres supporting common stingray and weever fish. Currents are usually weak in the lee of the cliffs, and the Ionian visibility regularly exceeds 25 metres. Boat access is from Kassiopi or Sidari.
Santorini, Cyclades
Indian Rock is a freestanding pinnacle off the outer caldera face of Santorini, named for the rock's silhouette which from the surface resembles a profiled face wearing a feathered headdress. The pinnacle rises from a sandy bottom at around 30 metres to within 4 metres of the surface, allowing a full circumnavigation in a single dive. The volcanic walls are deeply fissured and dotted with overhangs that shelter dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, scorpionfish and the occasional brown meagre. Cracks at depth host octopus and slipper lobster, while the shallow shoulder is patrolled by schools of damselfish, salema and ornate wrasse. Currents are frequently moderate because of the pinnacle's exposed position on the open caldera face, and they concentrate plankton that in turn attracts amberjack and bonito in late summer. The dive is best suited to advanced open-water divers comfortable navigating around an isolated structure in current; entry is by boat from Vlychada or the south-coast operators.
Mykonos, Cyclades
Kalafati Reef sits off the east coast of Mykonos near Kalafati Beach and is the home reef of the island's longest-running dive operator. The site is a series of large granite boulders, boulders and crevices arranged in a stepped reef that descends from a shallow plateau at 6 metres to a sandy interface at around 30 metres. The granite substrate is unusual for the central Cyclades, which are mostly volcanic and schist, and gives the reef a distinct geometry of rounded boulders and narrow swim-throughs. Resident species include dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, two-banded sea bream, damselfish, ornate wrasse, scorpionfish and painted comber, with seasonal pelagic visits from amberjack and bonito. Currents are typically weak in the lee of the headland, although the meltemi can create some surge in the shallows. Visibility regularly exceeds 25 metres in summer and autumn. The shallow boulder field is also used as a training and check-out site, while the deeper slope rewards advanced open-water divers.
Rhodes, Dodecanese
Kallithea Springs lies off the small headland just north of the historic Kallithea thermal spa, an art-deco-era bathing complex restored as a cultural venue, on the east coast of Rhodes. The dive begins along a rocky shoreline with shallow boulders at 4 to 8 metres and follows the substrate down through a series of small caverns and cracks to a sandy interface at around 25 metres. The most distinctive feature is a chain of short swim-throughs in the 10 to 18 metre range, well-lit and short enough to stay within the cavern definition, with the back walls colonised by yellow cluster anemones and red sponges. Resident fish life includes dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, ornate wrasse, two-banded sea bream, painted comber, scorpionfish and damselfish, and the deeper sandy zone often hosts common stingray and weever fish. Currents are typically weak in the lee of the bay, visibility regularly exceeds 25 metres, and the dive is reached by short boat ride from Faliraki or Rhodes Town.
Karpathos, Dodecanese
Off the small Dodecanese island of Karpathos, midway between Crete and Rhodes, lies a stepped reef and wall system that drops from a shallow plateau at 6 metres to a sandy interface at around 28 metres. The site sits on the open Aegean side of the island, exposed to the prevailing meltemi but blessed with the visibility that comes with that exposure: 30 metres or more is normal in summer and autumn. The reef walls are heavily fissured and host dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, scorpionfish, slipper lobster, ornate wrasse, painted comber and damselfish, with seasonal pelagic visits from amberjack, bonito and the occasional barracuda school. Sea fans of Eunicella cavolinii grow on the deeper overhangs and yellow cluster anemones colonise the shaded recesses. Currents can be moderate to strong on the open side and the dive is best suited to advanced open-water divers comfortable with drift; the lee of the island offers calmer alternatives. Access is by boat from Pigadia.
Zakynthos, Ionian
The Keri Caves are a chain of sea caves, arches and swim-throughs carved into the white limestone cliffs of Cape Keri, at the southwestern tip of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea. The site is reached by boat from Limni Keriou and the standard dive plan circles the cape's outer headland, dropping along a stepped wall to a sandy interface at around 24 metres before working back along the cave entrances at 8 to 14 metres. The largest caverns extend approximately 25 metres into the rock, well within the cavern-zone definition, with the interiors lit by entrance light and supporting communities of red sponges, yellow cluster anemones and bryozoans. Outside the caves the reef hosts dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, ornate wrasse, painted comber, two-banded sea bream and seasonal schools of barracuda. The Ionian visibility regularly exceeds 30 metres in summer and the sheltered geometry of Cape Keri keeps surface conditions calm even when the open sea is rough.
Rhodes, Dodecanese
Ladiko Bay sits just north of Anthony Quinn Bay on the east coast of Rhodes and is one of the most-used shore-diving sites on the island. A small sandy beach gives easy walk-in access to a shallow sand-and-rock bottom that descends gently to a maximum depth of around 18 metres at the mouth of the bay. The site is sheltered from the prevailing meltemi by the two encircling headlands, currents are minimal, and the calm geometry plus shallow profile make Ladiko an obvious choice for open-water training, refresher dives and macro photography. Despite the modest depths, marine life is varied: common octopus, two-banded sea bream, Mediterranean moray, scorpionfish, ornate wrasse, painted comber, damselfish and small schools of salema are regularly seen, along with the occasional juvenile dusky grouper tucked into rock crevices. Patches of Posidonia seagrass support pipefish, sea hares and small flatfish. Visibility ranges from 12 to 20 metres depending on swell and recent weather.
Lesbos, North Aegean
On the western coast of Lesbos, the underwater extension of the UNESCO Petrified Forest of Lesbos geopark preserves fossil trunks of Miocene-era trees, formed when volcanic ash buried a coastal forest some 20 million years ago. The submerged section sits on the shallow shelf off Sigri and is accessible to recreational divers under guide supervision; fossil trunks lie partly exposed on the rocky substrate at depths between 10 and 25 metres. Because the entire area is a protected geological monument, divers may not touch, sample or remove anything; viewing only. Marine life on the surrounding reef includes dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, painted comber, ornate wrasse and scorpionfish, with the sandy patches between rock outcrops supporting common stingray. Visibility in the northern Aegean is moderate, typically 12 to 20 metres, and water temperatures cool earlier in autumn than the southern islands; June through October is the reliable dive window.
Rhodes, Dodecanese
Lindos Bay is a sheltered horseshoe-shaped cove on the east coast of Rhodes, immediately below the ancient Acropolis of Lindos with its temple of Athena Lindia and Crusader-era fortress. The bay is enclosed by two rocky headlands that keep surface conditions calm even when the meltemi blows from the north, and the substrate descends gently from a sandy beach to a maximum depth of around 22 metres at the bay mouth. The dive is divided between rocky reefs along the headlands and sandy stretches in the centre. Resident species include dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, two-banded sea bream, painted comber, ornate wrasse, scorpionfish, damselfish and seasonal schools of salema; sandy patches host common stingray, weever fish and razorfish, and Posidonia seagrass beds support pipefish. Because the entire bay sits beneath the Acropolis archaeological zone, divers may not touch, recover or photograph for commercial use any artefact found, and any discovery must be reported to local authorities.
Zakynthos, Ionian
Marathonisi, locally known as Turtle Island, is a small uninhabited islet in Laganas Bay on the south coast of Zakynthos and one of the most important Mediterranean nesting beaches for the Caretta caretta loggerhead sea turtle. The whole bay sits within the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, established in 1999, where speedboats are banned and dive operations work under park regulations. Diving is conducted on the calm western side of the island, where a shallow rocky reef stepped with sand patches drops gently to about 18 metres. The headline encounter is with the loggerhead turtle, particularly during the May to August nesting season and the surrounding months when adults are present in the bay. Other resident species include dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, two-banded sea bream, ornate wrasse, painted comber and damselfish. Strict park rules prohibit touching, riding or harassing turtles, using torches at night, and operating outside permitted zones; licensed operators brief these in detail before every dive.
Kissamos, Crete
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 wreck off Kissamos Bay in western Crete is one of the few intact Second World War German fighter aircraft accessible to recreational divers in the Mediterranean. The single-seat fighter ditched during the Battle of Crete in May 1941 and now rests upright on a sandy bottom at approximately 24 metres, with the propeller, cockpit fuselage, and tail section still recognisable despite decades of corrosion. Because the aircraft is officially protected as a war relic under Greek antiquities law, it may only be visited with a licensed local guide and nothing may be removed. The relatively shallow depth, calm bay, and excellent visibility make this an approachable dive for advanced open-water divers. Sandy patches around the wreck host common stingray, weever fish, sole and red mullet, while the metal structure itself is colonised by encrusting sponges and small reef fish such as damselfish, painted comber and ornate wrasse. Octopus often shelter beneath the wings. The bay is dived year-round but spring and autumn tend to deliver the clearest water and least surface chop.
Aegina, Attica
Moni Island is a small rocky islet just off the southwest coast of Aegina in the Saronic Gulf, easily reached by boat from Athens. The whole island is a protected wildlife refuge famous for the Cretan wild goat (kri-kri) introduced for conservation, and underwater the site is one of the more accessible reef dives near the capital. The substrate descends from a shallow shoreline at 4 metres through a stepped rocky reef to a sandy interface at around 25 metres, broken by boulders and small overhangs. Resident species include dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, two-banded sea bream, painted comber, ornate wrasse, scorpionfish and damselfish, with seasonal schools of salema and bogue. The Saronic Gulf has slightly lower visibility than the open Aegean because of the proximity to Athens and the shallow, semi-enclosed basin, typically 12 to 18 metres, but the dive is calm, accessible and a popular weekend choice for Athens-based divers.
Agia Pelagia, Crete
Mononaftis Bay sits immediately west of Agia Pelagia on the north Cretan coast and is one of the island's most-used training and macro photography sites. A gentle pebble beach drops into a shore-accessible cove sheltered on three sides by headlands, where divers find a sandy slope to around 8 metres before encountering a series of low rocky reefs that step down to roughly 22 metres at the mouth of the bay. The protected geometry keeps surface conditions calm even when the open Aegean is choppy, and currents are typically negligible. Resident marine life is rich and accessible: common octopus, Mediterranean moray, bearded fireworm, damselfish, painted comber, two-banded sea bream, and the occasional dusky grouper patrolling the deeper edges. Patches of seagrass host sea hares and pipefish, and night dives reveal squid hunting along the sand. The shallow shelf and easy entry make Mononaftis ideal for open-water courses, refresher dives and macro photographers, while still rewarding more experienced divers with consistent fish life.
Kos, Dodecanese
Paradise Reef sits off Kemer Beach on the southern coast of Kos in the Dodecanese, accessible by short boat ride. The site is famous for the streams of warm volcanic gas bubbles that vent through cracks in the seabed at around 5 to 10 metres, a reminder that the southern Dodecanese sits on the active Hellenic volcanic arc. The reef itself is a stepped rocky structure that descends from a shallow shelf at 4 metres to a sandy interface at approximately 22 metres, with cracks, small overhangs and short swim-throughs along the way. Marine life is varied: dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, two-banded sea bream, painted comber, ornate wrasse, scorpionfish and damselfish are all routinely seen. The bubbling vents create photogenic foreground for wide-angle photography and locally warm patches of substrate that draw small reef fish. Currents are usually weak in the lee of the bay, making the dive accessible to beginners just past open-water level under guide supervision.
Paros, Cyclades
Off the south coast of Paros lies a small cluster of ancient transport amphorae partially embedded in a sandy slope between roughly 18 and 25 metres. The amphorae are believed to date from the Hellenistic and early Roman period, scattered from a long-decomposed merchant vessel; the wooden hull is gone but the ceramic cargo remains, partly buried, partly upright. Under Greek antiquities law these objects are state property and the entire site is classified as an underwater archaeological zone. Diving is permitted only with licensed Cycladic dive operators who hold the appropriate cultural-ministry permit, dives are conducted in small groups under direct guide supervision, and nothing whatsoever may be touched, removed, photographed for commercial use or even disturbed by improper finning. The biological community on and around the amphorae is also rich: octopus often shelter inside the necks, and small reef fish such as scorpionfish, painted comber and ornate wrasse hunt along the edges of the field.
Alonissos, Sporades
The Peristera Wreck off Alonissos in the Northern Sporades is one of the most significant ancient shipwrecks in the Mediterranean and the first underwater archaeological site in Greece officially opened to recreational divers, in 2020 after extensive conservation work. The merchant vessel sank in the late 5th century BC carrying a cargo of approximately 4,000 amphorae of wine from the islands of Chios and Mende, and the cargo mound, more than 25 metres long, lies at depths between 22 and 30 metres on a sandy slope. Diving is permitted only with licensed local operators holding a special permit, in small groups under direct guide supervision, with strict prohibitions on touching anything, photography for commercial use or finning improperly above the cargo. Marine life around the amphora mound is rich, with octopus sheltering inside the jar necks and dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, scorpionfish and damselfish on the surrounding rocks. The site lies within the National Marine Park of Alonissos.
Milos, Cyclades
Sirina Reef is a freestanding volcanic pinnacle in the open water off the southwest coast of Milos in the Cyclades. The pinnacle rises from a sandy bottom at around 35 metres to within 8 metres of the surface, allowing a single-tank circumnavigation for advanced divers. Milos's substrate is dramatically volcanic, with sulphur-stained rock, hydrothermal vents and obsidian outcrops shaping much of the island's coastline, and Sirina shows the same character: pumice walls dotted with sea fans of Eunicella cavolinii, yellow cluster anemones, red sponges and bryozoans. Resident species include dusky grouper, brown meagre, Mediterranean moray, scorpionfish and common octopus, and the open-water position attracts pelagic visits from amberjack, bonito and seasonal schools of barracuda. Currents are often moderate because the pinnacle is exposed on all sides, and they concentrate plankton that in turn brings the larger predators in. The dive is suited to advanced open-water divers with drift-diving experience; access is by boat from Adamas.
Zakynthos, Ionian
Smuggler's Cove, also known as Navagio (Greek for shipwreck), is the most photographed beach in Greece and sits beneath sheer 200-metre limestone cliffs on the northwest coast of Zakynthos. The cove holds the rusted hulk of the MV Panagiotis, a coastal freighter that ran aground in 1980, but the beach itself is on land and not a dive subject. Diving is conducted off the cliff faces immediately east and west of the cove, where vertical walls drop straight from the surface to 30 metres and beyond, with the visibility of the Ionian Sea regularly exceeding 30 metres. The walls are heavily fissured and host dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, scorpionfish, slipper lobster and the occasional brown meagre, with ornate wrasse, painted comber and damselfish on the shallower shoulders. Currents are typically weak to moderate and the site is exposed to north and west swell, so diving is restricted to calm summer days. Boat access is from Porto Vromi or Limni Keriou.
Santorini, Cyclades
The Taxiarchis is a Greek freighter that ran aground and sank off the south coast of Santorini, eventually breaking in two and settling on a sandy bottom at around 22 metres. The two halves of the wreck lie roughly 50 metres apart with the bow section partly upright and the stern on its side, creating two distinct sub-dives within a single boat trip. The wreck has been on the bottom long enough for an encrusting community of sponges, hydroids and small soft corals to colonise the metal structure, and the open holds and tilted superstructure shelter dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, scorpionfish and occasional schools of damselfish and salema. Octopus often nest in the cargo doors and the slipped containers create swim-throughs accessible without true wreck-penetration training. Currents are usually weak in the lee of Santorini, although the meltemi wind from the north can introduce some surge. Visibility regularly exceeds 25 metres in summer and autumn.
Kalymnos, Dodecanese
The channel between Kalymnos and the small uninhabited islet of Telendos hosts one of the most spectacular wall dives in the Dodecanese. The substrate of Kalymnos, the historic centre of Aegean sponge diving, drops from the cliff base at the islet's south end into a near-vertical wall that continues past 35 metres on the recreational profile and considerably deeper for technical divers. The wall is heavily fissured limestone with overhangs, cracks and small caverns colonised in the deeper sections by sea fans of Eunicella cavolinii and yellow cluster anemones, and the cracks shelter slipper lobster, scorpionfish, common octopus, Mediterranean moray and dusky grouper. The exposed channel position concentrates current, which in turn brings pelagic visits from amberjack, bonito and seasonal barracuda schools. Visibility regularly exceeds 30 metres in summer and autumn. The dive is suited to advanced open-water divers with drift experience; access is by boat from Pothia or Massouri.
Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia
The Thermaikos Gulf, around the major northern Greek port of Thessaloniki, holds a number of small wrecks dating from the late Ottoman period through the Second World War, scattered across the soft-bottom plain at depths between 20 and 35 metres. Most are barge hulls, fishing vessels and miscellaneous small craft, accessed only through licensed local operators; some are formally classified as antiquities of war and require permits. Visibility in the gulf is more modest than the open Aegean because of city and river outflows, typically 6 to 12 metres, but the wrecks act as artificial reefs and concentrate marine life. Resident species include dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, scorpionfish, painted comber and small reef fish, with seasonal schools of bogue and salema. The northern Aegean cools earlier in autumn than the southern islands and water temperatures range from around 14 degrees Celsius in winter to 26 in late summer. The dive is best suited to experienced open-water divers comfortable with lower-visibility conditions.
Santorini, Cyclades
Tripiti, whose name means 'pierced' in Greek, is a rock formation off the southern coast of Santorini distinguished by a large natural arch that pierces the headland from one side to the other. Divers descend at around 6 metres on the western side, swim through the arch at roughly 12 metres, and continue along the eastern wall down to a sandy floor at about 25 metres. The arch itself is wide and well-lit, comfortable even for divers without overhead experience. The walls are heavily fissured volcanic rock dotted with sponges, sea fans, and occasional yellow cluster anemones. Fish life includes dusky grouper, common octopus, Mediterranean moray, painted comber, ornate wrasse, two-banded sea bream and damselfish, and schools of salema circle the upper plateau. Currents are usually weak in the lee of the headland, although the meltemi wind from the north can complicate surface conditions. The site is reached by boat from Vlychada or Akrotiri and is a popular afternoon dive paired with Akrotiri Reef.
Skiathos, Sporades
Tsougrias is a small uninhabited islet just south of Skiathos in the Northern Sporades, and its sheltered eastern shore hosts one of the most reliable reef dives in the area. The site is built around a stepped rocky structure that descends from a shallow plateau at 6 metres to a sandy interface at around 25 metres, with the substrate broken into low ridges, boulders and short overhangs. Resident species include dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, painted comber, ornate wrasse, two-banded sea bream, scorpionfish and schools of damselfish. The Sporades sit at the southern boundary of the National Marine Park of Alonissos and waters are home to the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus); sightings on dives are rare but documented, and operators brief appropriate behaviour. Currents are usually weak in the lee of the islet, visibility is consistent at 18 to 22 metres in summer and the water temperature is mild from June through October.
Kissamos, Crete
In Kissamos Bay on the western tip of Crete, divers can visit a scattered debris field of wartime aircraft and equipment remnants from the Battle of Crete in May 1941, locally associated with US-supplied or US-built airframes used by Commonwealth forces during the campaign. The remains include twisted aluminium aircraft fragments, undercarriage parts and miscellaneous metal structure spread across a soft-bottom plain at depths between 22 and 30 metres. Because the materials are formally classified as antiquities of the period of war under Greek law, the site is accessible only through licensed Cretan operators who hold the appropriate permits, and removal of any artefact is strictly forbidden. The fragments form small artificial reef nodes that attract dusky grouper, Mediterranean moray, common octopus, painted comber and seasonal schools of bogue. Sandy patches around the debris host common stingray, weever fish and the occasional sole. The site is best dived in the calm summer and early autumn months, with visibility regularly exceeding 25 metres.
