Where to scuba dive in Halkidiki
The Scuba Diving Paradise
In the early 1970s, before the second peninsula of Halkidiki was well-known, the locals witnessed the arrival of dozens of caravans with Italian and French plates in the area from the end of March. They arrived by road then, through former Yugoslavia. Camping was free, the tourists made their holidays and dipped in the crystal clear waters. Scuba diving all day, they were looking for the deep, they also caught fish since they often took care to show off their sea loot to the strangers.
It is well known that the sea area of Halkidiki from Porto Koufo to the tip of Mount Athos hides many "treasures". To this day it remains a mysterious area with sea trails, with wrecks, with myths of chests from the days of the pirates. Elements that attract fans of underwater activities to seek the deep sea adventure, combined with the tranquility of endless blue.
Diving places
Almost all of Halkidiki is an ideal place for underwater activities, as the underwater landscape varies greatly from area to area, from sandy bottom to steep cliffs and from crystal clear waters to dark underwater caves. Flora and fauna of the sea ground vary depending on the dive site and the season. The existence of many species of fish and underwater plants joyfully colors the sea ground, while the presence of ship wrecks in the area makes diving particularly interesting. Fish such as tuna and others, make their appearance periodically every May and September. The waters in most areas are warm and there are no - at least in the main diving spots - intense currents.
Diving takes place in more than 20 locations all over Halkidiki, while in diving schools one can attend all of the training programs, as well as an integrated diving trip program for graduate divers. Beyond that, a simple visitor can enjoy a unique experience of the underwater by following experienced instructors through "Discover Diving" diving programs. For the transportation of visitors to the diving areas, 4X4, mini bus, inflatable crafts and boats are used.
Some very interesting places for diving in Halkidiki are:
The wreck of the ship "Mytilene"
It is located on the peninsula of Kassandra (first leg), about 10 minutes by boat from the facilities of Sani Hotel north-west of Kypsas bay. It is a shipwreck of a 40 meter long merchant ship, located at a depth of 20 meters. "Mytilene", is an old German motorship, was built in 1941 and carried on the Thessaloniki - Mytilene route transporting merchandise (oil, cereals, wine). "Mytilene" sank in 1961 when it hit a reef after a strong storm. It was full of bottles of wine that are still intact even today. The wreck is one of the favorite shelters for all kinds of fish.
Porto Valitsa
It is located in the bay of Paliouri, in Kassandra. In an idyllic scenery of exceptional beauty, this diving spot is characterized by sharp cliffs and rocks, and the depth of dive is between 12 and 30 meters. One can often find octopus and lobster shelter, as well as a rich variety of other fish.
Pirate bay
It is located to the east of the bay of Paliouri, a rocky area with impressive rocks of the deep. Maximum depth of diving 33 meters.
The islet of Kelyfos
It is located in the middle of the Toroni bay opposite of Neos Marmaras and is also known as the "Turtle" because of its shape. It has excellent diving interest, with various fish, a wide variety of corals, anemones and starfish. The whole islet is offered for scuba diving, at more than 10 locations, with a maximum depth of 45 meters. Many diving schools organize diving courses here.
Shipwreck of a Turkish merchant ship
It is 7 miles NE of Porto Koufo on the eastern side of the Sithonia peninsula. It is an old iron merchant ship of 1910. It is submerged by the side in depth of 17 - 40 meters. A rich artificial reef with vegetation and intense underwater life, as well as marine organisms have found shelter in the wreck in recent years.
Underwater cave of Errika
It is located 4 miles east of Porto Koufo. The entrance of the cave is in 12 meters deep, it extends about 60 meters long and 10 meters wide and rises up to 3 meters depth from the sea surface. Its maximum depth is 35 meters. The waters are clear, with great underwater flora. The cave is a breeding ground for crustaceans (shrimps, crayfish, lobsters, etc.).