Diving in Greece: 19 Sites from Caldera Walls to WWII Wrecks

Greece is not the first country divers name, but it earns its place. Across 19 mapped sites you'll find volcanic caldera walls dropping to 40 m, sea caves lit by filtered light, a shallow WWII fighter wreck, and beginner-friendly bays that work even in shoulder season. Water temperature swings between 13°C in winter and 26°C in August, so a 3 mm wetsuit covers summer and a 7 mm handles the colder months.

Best dive sites in Greece

• Santorini — Caldera Wall — Intermediate. Depth 12–40 m. The submerged rim of the volcanic caldera; wall diving with strong visual drama, thermoclines likely below 20 m.
• Zakynthos — Keri Caves — Beginner-friendly. Depth 5–25 m. A cave system on the southwest coast accessible to open-water divers; good light penetration in the shallower sections.
• Crete — El Greco Cave (Akrotiri) — Intermediate. Depth 8–25 m. A sea cave on the Akrotiri peninsula with narrow passages opening into larger chambers.
• WWII Fighter Plane Wreck — Intermediate. Max depth 7 m. One of the shallower wreck dives in the Aegean; the shallow depth means long bottom time and good natural light for photography.
• Mononaftis (Crete) — Beginner. A sheltered site that works well for first dives and refreshers.
• Center Action Thassos — Intermediate. Thassos sits in the northern Aegean where water runs cooler; expect different species composition than the southern islands.

When is the best time to dive in Greece

Sites are accessible year-round, but the practical window for comfortable diving is May through October. Sea temperature peaks at 26°C in July–August, which is when visibility tends to be best across the Aegean and Ionian. Winter diving (December–February) is possible — particularly in Crete, which has the mildest climate — but water drops to 13°C and you'll need a drysuit or thick wetsuit. Spring (April–May) brings cooler water but fewer crowds and calmer surface conditions on many sites.

Is Greece good for beginner divers

Yes, with some caveats. Sites like Keri Caves in Zakynthos, Mononaftis in Crete, and several Ionian bay dives are rated beginner and have calm, sheltered water. The caldera wall at Santorini and cave systems like El Greco require an intermediate certification and comfort with depth or overhead environments. Most dive centres on the main islands offer PADI or SSI discover-dive programmes for first-timers.

What you'll see

Specific marine life records for Greek sites are still being compiled in this dataset. In practice, Aegean and Ionian waters host octopus, moray eels, scorpionfish, sea bream, grouper, and nudibranchs. The WWII wreck attracts encrusting life. Cave sites like El Greco and Keri shelter species that avoid open water. Posidonia seagrass meadows — a protected habitat — appear at several sites and support their own food chains.

FAQ

Do I need a dive certification to dive in Greece? For most sites, yes. Greek law requires proof of certification for independent diving. Discover Scuba programmes run through licensed centres are available without prior certification.

What visibility can I expect? The Aegean typically offers 15–25 m visibility in summer. Cave sites and shallower bays vary depending on surge and season.

Is liveaboard diving available in Greece? A small number of liveaboard routes cover the Cyclades and Dodecanese, though Greece's liveaboard scene is smaller than Egypt's or the Maldives'.

Can I dive in Santorini as a beginner? The Caldera Wall is rated intermediate due to depth (to 40 m) and the open-water exposure. Beginners should look at shallower, sheltered alternatives on the island or head to Zakynthos.

Greece dive map