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 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 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 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: April to November is the season, warmest from July to September; the summer meltemi can blow out the exposed north-coast sites for a day or two at a time.
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
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