A small rocky island a few metres off the shore, with a rock formation 300 m long running from the surface down to 60 m. Amphorae, vases and the remains of an ancient shipwreck lie around it. You can swim out from the beach or come in by boat, and the depth band you dive is entirely your own choice.
Where it is and how deep
35.0987° N, 24.5938° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The islet is close enough to the beach to swim to, and the rock underneath it is the dive: a formation about 300 m long that starts at the surface and drops away to 60 m. That range means the profile is yours to set. Most divers pick a depth band and work the length of the rock along it rather than trying to see the whole thing in one tank.
What sets the site apart is what lies around the rock. Amphorae, vases and the remains of an ancient shipwreck sit on the bottom near the islet. It is a look-and-leave dive: the material is archaeology and stays where it is, so photograph it and keep your fins clear of it. Work back up the rock towards the islet and the shallow end doubles as the safety stop.
Background
The rock at Prasonissi has an old ship's cargo lying around it. Amphorae and vases rest on the bottom near the remains of an ancient shipwreck, the sort of scatter left when a hull breaks up and the pottery it carried outlasts it. The rock they lie on is about 300 m long and falls from the surface to 60 m, so where in the profile you meet them depends on the depth band you dive.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair |
Season follows Crete: Apr–Nov is the season with Jun–Oct warmest; the meltemi blows hardest in July and August and closes the north coast.
Know before you go
- The rock runs to 60 m, well past recreational limits. Set a depth ceiling on the surface and hold it, because the drop is continuous and easy to follow down.
Sources
- Prasonissi Reef — Scubago — Scubago
More dive sites in Crete
Reef
A 400-year-old anchor at 32 m, with more scattered around it
Wreck
A sugar carrier lost in 1985, lying in 12-16 m
Cave & cavern
A fixed rope up a siphon into an air pocket inside the cliff
Fossil dwarf-elephant bones in a chamber that still holds air
Seagrass, sand and rock in 7 m, straight off the beach
Reef
Cool, fresh-fed water over rocky patches to 15 m
Wall
A vertical wall dropping to 40 m, 15 minutes out by boat
Reef
A tunnel entered at 14 m that lets you out at 8 m
Similar dives elsewhere
Red and white gorgonian fields between 40 and 60 m
Two swim-throughs, 7 m and 8 m long, in one rock
Try-dive shallows at 3-5 m, groupers on the way to 16 m
One of the area's dive highlights, and an ideal night dive