Tag Archive for: Reef

The rough, rocky scenery above the surface concludes in an equally impressive wall at the tip of the cove. Divers can observe remains of an ancient, roman era wreck that stretches across the levels of the dive. Fragments of broken amphorae but also an intact one, a lead stock of a composite anchor and ballast stones mark the final resting place of the long gone vessel. The reef is abundant with most species of Mediterranean aquatic life while Loggerhead sea turtles are anything but a rare sight.

Dive starts at 9 m on top a rocky plateau that descends smoothly to the bottom of the rocky slope. The Neptune’s seagrass at the side of the open sea meets the rocky coastline at a depth of 18 m, creating the perfect habitant for dusky and white groupers, white sea breams and brown meagres. Continuing further to the wall, crevices give shelter to more groupers, morays, scorpion and cardinal fish. The way back starts where the wall ends giving space to more seagrass and is exactly where gold blotch groupers find the perfect hunting grounds, often accompanied by snappers and upon return divers explore the shallower parts of the wall, at around 12m, where morays, invasive yet impressive lionfish, tube worms, wrasses and quite often slipper lobsters and Triton’s trumpet shells can be found. Where the wall ends into a rocky plateau, divers pass through schools of dancing damselfish and continue towards the amphorae and anchor of the ancient wreck laying at a depth of 9 m and just below the safety stop spot.

The average depth or the dive is 16 m, while the max is 31 m, appropriate for divers of all levels. Boat ride duration 9′.

 

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Off the cliff at Ithaca’s southeastern cape, a breathtaking wall rises from the depth of 80 meters. Experienced and daring divers can explore the holes and crevices to discover and photograph amazing colorful sponges and corals, tiny crustaceans and nudibranchs, rare grouper species, moray eels and lobsters. Often amberjacks and red snappers appear from the deep to intercept the intruders of their territory. The dive concludes on the shallower part of the wall, where impressive rock formations can be observed. The Ai Giannis’ wall is an all-time favorite site to free divers who can readily plunge into the deep blue.

The average depth of the dive is 20 m, while the max is 30 m, appropriate for advanced level divers. The visibility is usually greater than 30 m and temperature ranges between 17-25 °C in summer months, depending on depth. Occasionally a weak surface current may be encountered. Boat ride duration 35′.

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At the eastern, most tip of Ithaca, on the crest of a sloping reef that shortly reaches the contour line of 100 meters, lies the aircraft wreck of a Luftwaffe Ju88 twin-engine bomber. The aircraft met its fate as it ditched a short distance offshore reportedly hit by allied fire. It is shocking to imagine the force of the crash as the two engines can be found far apart at 22 and 28 meters and the tail sits at 36m further away. The fuselage and the wings have rolled deep down the slope, off limits to recreational divers. Apart from the remains of the plane, divers have the chance to explore the magnificent reef where dolphins or large predators such as amberjacks, tunas and snappers often feed on the clouds of sardines and damselfish, while on the sides of the reef groupers ambush prey. Quite often divers can catch the currents into a drift dive.

The average depth or the dive is 20 m, while the max is 37, reserving the site for experienced divers. The visibility is usually greater than 20m while temperature ranges between 18-26 C in summer months, depending on depth. Occasionally there may be strong currents close to the surface.  Boat ride duration 35′.

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Dias is a rocky islet once home to a monastery and in earlier times a temple dedicated to Greek God of Gods, Zeus. This is the dominant landmark of an area of swallow reefs and some of the richest fishing fields around Kefalonia.

It takes more than one dive around the rock to explore the cavelets and passages that hold numerous species of fish, crustaceans and cephalopods, while Loggerhead turtles are common visitors. Among the stars are slipper lobsters and triton’s trumpets. Along the route pottery and ceramics from the ancient and the Christian temples can be spotted.

The average depth of the dive is 12 m, while the max is 22 m, appropriate for divers of all levels.

The usual visibility is 25 m and temperature ranges between 23-25 °C in summer months. Occasionally a weak surface current may be encountered. Boat ride duration 35′.

 

 

As divers enter the idyllic fresh water lake they come across impressive kelp-like sea grass and schools of sea bass and grey mullets. Karavomilos is the estuary of the famous Melissani Lake and the doorstep to an amazing world. The cave sets breathtaking scenery of stalactites and stalagmites to the experienced divers. As soon as technical cave divers enter the second chamber, light gives room to a silent dark world.

The average depth of the dive is 9 m, while the max is 17 m, however due to the cavern-cave characteristics, Karavomilos is reserved for advanced divers and further penetration is permitted by technical cave divers only. The visibility reaches an amazing 40+ m and temperature is constantly 14 °C. No currents are present. Car ride duration 45′.

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Around this shallow colorful reef, divers can spend time observing a surprising variety of fish, since the holes and crevices on the rock are home to parrotfish, cardinal fish, blennies, sea bream, mullets, small crustaceans and many more species that find shelter there. An arch-shaped swim-through along the coast can be crossed by divers giving the opportunity to get impressive views of aquatic life against the blue background, just like looking through a porthole on the seafloor!

The average depth or the dive is 8 m, while the max is 12 m, appropriate for divers of all levels.

The usual visibility is 20 m and temperature ranges between 22-27 °C in summer months. No surface currents are present. Boat ride duration 3′.

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