9 best places to dive in Greece
May 10, 2023
Beautiful beaches, fascinating culture, and historical landmarks, Greece is a popular holiday destination. But you might not know that it is also home to some of the most beautiful scuba diving spots in the world.
The clear blue waters of Greece are perfect for exploring, with caves, shipwrecks, reefs, and marine life of all shapes, sizes, and colors waiting to be found by scuba divers.
Here are nine of the best places to dive in Greece.
1.Santorini
Volcanic underwater caves, lava formations, colorful sponges, and masses of marine life, what is not to love about scuba diving in Santorini? Santorini is a Greek island in the southern Aegean Sea, and it is home to picturesque postcard-worthy ocean views, and excellent diving.
Scuba diving in Santorini promises sea life including octopuses, squids, seahorses, and moray eels, as well as the famous wreck of Santa Maria that sits at 18m/60ft deep.
2. Crete
Located between the Aegean and the Libyan Sea, Crete is the largest and southernmost island of Greece and boasts exquisite diving.
Crete is renowned for its clear blue waters and stunning beaches, and what lies under the waves is no less impressive. With over 100 dive sites spread throughout the island, there is no shortage of marine life for divers to try and spot, this includes dolphins, turtles, and octopuses. One of the most popular dive sites in Crete is Elephant’s Cave; A unique underwater cave that is perfect for experienced divers with an advanced certification.
Worried it might be too late in life to take up scuba diving? We are here to ease your mind. Check out our blog: Learning to Dive After Retirement.
3. Zakynthos
A beautiful island located in the Ionian Sea, Zakynthos is known for its white sand beaches as well as its vibrant nightlife. Zakynthos is also famous for its amazing scuba diving locations that boast crystal clear waters, full of treats. It provides exquisite deep diving, with visibility up to around 40m/130ft.
The Blue Caves in Zakynthos are a system of underwater caverns. They are one of the most popular dive sites in Zakynthos, and divers go to explore the caves and to try and spot octopuses, sea urchins, and sponges.
4. Mykonos
Mykonos is an island that sits in the Aegean Sea, known for its exciting nightlife and beautiful beaches. But its awesome underwater world is what attracts divers; Offering excellent visibility, scuba divers can explore the reefs, caves, and shipwrecks that call the area their home.
Paradise Reef is one of the most popular dive sites in Mykonos. A beautiful coral reef that is full of beautiful marine life including octopuses, grouper, wrasse, and schools of colorful fish.
5. Rhodes
The largest of the Dodecanese islands, Rhodes is known for its rich history and charming Old Town. With over 30 dive sites spread throughout the island, scuba divers flock to Rhodes to see what they can spot underwater.
Arguably the best dive site in Rhodes is the Caves of Antony Quinn; A network of underwater caves that are home to colorful sea urchins, starfish, octopuses, and more. With visibility up to 30 meters, advanced divers and cave divers can explore the many nooks and crannies of the caves with ease.
6. Corfu
Corfu is the second largest of the Ionian Islands in Greece. The clear blue waters of the Ionian Sea offer unique scuba diving experiences, with diverse marine life, fascinating rock formations, and ancient shipwrecks all scattered around the area.
Paleokastritsa is a favorite location for both snorkeling and scuba diving and is home to some of the best rock formations and caves in Greece, as well as crystal clear visibility, and masses of marine life.
7. Amorgos
Amorgos is an eastern island of the Cyclades group in Greece, it is known for its translucent waters, and teeming marine species that make it a great destination for scuba diving. The best time for diving in Amorgos is around July and August when the water is at its warmest and the visibility is clearest.
The dive sites of Amorgos were made famous by the movie The Big Blue, which sparked a worldwide interest in freediving in the late 1980’s. Amorgos boasts a variety of wall, reef, and pinnacle dives that are all home to many colorful fish, octopuses, and lots more.
8. Pagasetic Gulf
Pagasetic Gulf is the perfect vacation spot for scuba diving enthusiasts. The Gulf’s waters are home to a variety of marine life, including underwater plants, various fish species, and unique marine mammals. Divers can explore underwater caves, shipwrecks, and rock formations that have become home to many marine species.
Faraggi gorge is considered to be one of the best dive sites in Pagasetic Gulf. Here, you will find a dramatic wall of a rock that descends to 40m/130ft below the surface. From here you can look up to witness an illusion caused by the reflection on the skin bream and tuna, which divers call ‘silver rain’, it is a real treat to see.
9. Alonnisos
Alonnisos is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea and it is a particularly special destination for scuba divers, with a range of dive sites and dive centers that cater for all levels of experience.
Kokkinokastro Reef is an area of Alonnisos that offers some of the best scuba diving. The reef is located on the southern coast of the island and rises from a depth of about 15m/50ft to around 5m/16ft. Divers can spot brightly colored fish, as well as the occasional moray eel and triggerfish, amongst many other marine species.
Where will you head first on your Greek scuba diving adventure?