Zakynthos, Ionian, Greece

Marathonisi

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.