A stone reef standing in the middle of Mourtias bay, dived as a drop-off that falls from about 10 metres to 33. The operator puts the area of interest at 15 to 25 metres, follows the wall round to a large bed of seagrass, then comes back over the top of the reef looking for crabs and nudibranchs on the return leg.
Also known as Xera Mourtias.
Where it is and how deep
39.1385° N, 23.8420° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The reef sits out in the middle of the bay rather than against the shore, so the dive begins over open water. The drop-off starts at about 10 metres and descends to 33, though the operator notes you do not need to reach the bottom, and the plan works the upper half of that: the area of interest is 15 to 25 metres, with 35 metres given as the maximum the site allows.
You descend the drop-off and follow the wall round to a large bed of seagrass at the end of it. The return leg climbs back onto the top of the reef, and that is where the small life is: crabs and nudibranchs on the rock, checked over on the way home. The dive therefore runs deep first and shallow second, so the slow close-in looking happens while you are already offgassing.
Marine life and season
- Nudibranchs
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Off-season | Off-season |
Season follows Alonissos & the Peristera Wreck: The underwater museum and most operators run May–Oct only; meltemi winds can close the exposed Peristera site in midsummer.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Mourtias Reef North?+
The operator lists the area of interest at 15 to 25 metres and the site maximum at 35. The drop-off itself begins around 10 metres and descends to 33 metres, so the depth you dive depends on how far down the wall you follow.
Sources
- Mourtias Reef - North — Alonissos Triton Dive Center
- Alonissos Triton Dive Center dive sites — Scubaverse
More dive sites in Alonissos & the Peristera Wreck
Wall from 8 m to 30 m, with rock running on to 50 m
The shallow half of the cove, with its best rock at 8 to 20 m
Reef
One of the area's dive highlights, and an ideal night dive
Wall to 20 metres, then into the most famous cave on Alonissos
Cave & cavern
A 70 m cave passage with its mouth between 22 and 34 m
A sharp drop to 50 m with openings and cracks in the face
A boulder-strewn plain further offshore than the West side
Often ends in a small cave full of young fish
Similar dives elsewhere
The sheltered fallback dive when the Tramontane blows
Circle the reef from 18 to 32 m, with the Phedon's remains on it
.jpg){kind=link}
A cove sheltered from wind and swell, 10 m to 30 m
Canyons, rifts and drop-offs between 10 and 30 m