Corfu, the area around Kolovri

Corfu · Greece · Reef · Wall

Kolovri

A deep offshore reef complex averaging 30 m

Area photo: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0

Kolovri, also written Colovri, is an offshore islet south of Paleokastritsa and the area's serious deep dive: a reef complex averaging 30 m, with a second deep reef dropping away beyond its edge towards a maximum of 80 m. Visibility is usually better than 30 m, and the site is kept for CMAS two-star or Advanced Open Water divers and up.

Also known as Colovri, Kolovri Island.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Kolovri: typical dive to 80 m (to 262 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit80 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 90 m (295 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

39.6360° N, 19.7273° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The run out takes under 30 minutes by boat. This is a deep dive from the start: the reef averages 30 m, so plan gas and no-deco time for a genuinely deep profile rather than a slope you can retreat up. At the edge of the main reef a second, deeper reef falls away below — the drop continues towards 80 m, far past recreational limits, so the abyss beyond the edge is scenery, not a route.

One part of the reef carries a monument to Max Hahn, a German physician for whom this was a favourite place. Conditions are usually kind — visibility better than 30 m and low current — but the site has a temper: for up to two days after a mistral has blown, the current can turn strong or even very strong. Depth is the flagged hazard, so run the dive to your plan rather than to the terrain, and keep the ascent unhurried.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Kolovri
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Off-seasonOff-seasonOff-seasonFairFairGoodPrimePrimePrimeGoodFairOff-season

Season follows Corfu: No operator publishes opening months; ratings follow seatemperature.info's Corfu monthlies (below 18°C Nov-Mar, 26.4°C peak in August), with April kept open on operators' own spring dive reports.

Know before you go

  • Depth — the reef complex averages 30 m and the walls continue towards 80 m, so gas and no-deco margins go quickly.
  • Current can turn strong to very strong for up to two days after a mistral blow — check the recent weather before committing to the trip.

Sources

  1. Colovri dive site — Scubago
  2. Kolovri Island dive site — Wannadive.net

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