Akamas Peninsula & Latchi · Cyprus · Wall · Cave & cavern
St. George's Island
16th-century stone anchors among amphora shards off the island
A small island off the Akamas coast, known to locals as Kakoskali, and the best-known dive of the peninsula. Its west side is a natural rock wall that slopes off into deeper water, while the east and south sides are strewn with broken amphora and old stone anchors.
Also known as St George Island, St George's Island, Kakoskali.
Where it is and how deep
35.0768° N, 32.3362° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Dives begin on the west side of the island, which is often sheltered from wind and waves. Just before the wall lie gravel beds where octopus hide in the shadows, and then comes a large rock topped by a big black sponge, a useful reference point for the rest of the dive.
The natural rock wall starts at 10 m and drops to around 34 m before sloping off deeper. Divers either work down the sloping seabed gradually or drop straight off the edge. Lionfish, squirrelfish, groupers, amberjack, peacock worms and nudibranchs line the face, with slipper lobster and moray eels tucked into its holes.
Around the east and south sides, broken amphora are scattered throughout, and whole pots lie on the sandy bottom further down. 16th-century stone anchors rest at around 40 m for those trained to go that deep. On the way back to the boat, a cave at about 8 m holds stalactites, and one cave on the island is packed with Moluccan sweepers.
Marine life and season
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Groupers
- Trevally & jacks
- Nudibranchs
- Sea turtles
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Akamas Peninsula & Latchi: July to September brings the warmest sea; January to April is the coolest stretch, near 17 °C.
Dive videos
Latchi Watersports Dive Centre: St. Georges Reef · Alfred Stoppels on YouTube
Cyprus Diving at its best with Cyprus Diving Adventures. Akamas - St Georges Island · Cyprus Diving Adventures on YouTube
Questions divers ask
What certification does St. George's Island need?+
The west wall runs from 10 m to around 34 m, so the full wall calls for Advanced Open Water and deep training; the stone anchors lie near 40 m.
Sources
- Dive Sites, Akamas Peninsula with Latchi Dive Centre — Latchi Dive Centre
- St George Island - Kakoskali — Cydive
- OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap
More dive sites in Akamas Peninsula & Latchi
Roman quarry blocks scattered below three stepped underwater bays
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Turtles at a volcanic rock during mating season
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Canyons and gullies cut through dark volcanic rock
A big cave inside the island at the middle of the lagoon
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Swim-throughs where the current pushes divers like a washing machine
A gully swim-through home to big groupers at an old Roman port
Cave & cavern
Blow holes and swim-throughs in a protected turtle bay
Similar dives elsewhere
A cave at 19 m that marks the way back along the wall
Drop-off, canyons and a cavern on the Plakias coast
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Lefkada & Meganisi · Greece
A small cave at 9 m, a haven for large anemones and cardinal fish
Sea stacks five minutes from port: a wall from 4 m to 20 m, an arch and a swim-through