Mediterranean · Greece
Kefalonia & Ithaca
Caves and grottoes lit through their roofs on both sides of the Ithaca channel
Photo: auteur · CC BY-SA 2.0
Kefalonia and Ithaca face each other across a deep channel in the Ionian Sea, and the diving between them is a coast of caves, grottoes, walls and a few wrecks, mostly between 5 and 26 m in water that clears to 20–40 m. The Temple cave in the north of Kefalonia, the Blue Cave at Agia Efimia and the bell-shaped Cyclops grotto off Ithaca are the dives to ask for, and Myrtos Bay adds a drift along rocky walls.
About diving in Kefalonia & Ithaca
Diving runs from three harbours: Fiskardo in the north of Kefalonia, the small harbour village of Agia Efimia on the northeast coast, and Sami, the island's main port, about 8 km to the south. Most of the Fiskardo sites are less than 20 minutes away by boat, and the same boats cross the channel to Ithaca, where the Cyclops grotto lies just off the island's north shore, and to Asteris, a rocky crest in mid-channel whose top breaks the surface as a small island. The sea is calm and often free of current.
Underwater the coast continues as caves, caverns, canyons, arches and drop-offs, with sponges and corals on the walls and light falling into the chambers through openings in their roofs. The Cyclops is an immense cavity about 30 m wide whose sandy floor starts at 32 m; an exit at 40 m leads into a large cavern, and the dive ends with an ascent along a cliff face. The residents are Mediterranean: octopus, moray eels, scorpionfish, wrasse, sea bream and grouper, with a resident grouper colony on a Second World War wreck off Sami.
The coast has dives for every certification level, and the centres at Agia Efimia and Sami run courses from beginner to divemaster level. Experienced divers are well served too: many who have dived around the world count the Temple among their best dives, and it can be combined with the neighbouring Cliff and Little Church sites. Macro photographers find the nudibranchs diverse and plentiful.
Best time to dive Kefalonia & Ithaca
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair |
May opens the best window, with the sea at about 18 °C and groups still small. June brings the first visibility peak. August is the warmest month, with the sea near 26 °C. September matches June for clarity, and October keeps the sea at about 22 °C with smaller groups again. From November to April the water cools to its low of about 15 °C in February.
Dive types & marine life
Barracuda schools pass the Agia Efimia wall only occasionally, and only in summer. A loggerhead sea turtle is an occasional sighting that takes luck.
- Cave & cavern
- Wall
- Reef
- Wreck
- Drift
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Nudibranchs
- Groupers
- Trevally & jacks
Best dive sites in Kefalonia & Ithaca
- 1
The Temple
Massive cave with a huge roof opening and a second entrance along the cliff, to 26 m.
- 2
The Cyclops
Bell-shaped grotto off north Ithaca, entered through three roof holes at 17–20 m.
- 3
Blue Cave
The signature cave dive of northern Kefalonia, to about 20 m and open to Open Water divers.
- 4
The Wall
Vertical wall north of Agia Efimia dropping beyond 40 m, home to scorpionfish and large octopus.
- 5
Myrtos Bay
Drift along the rocky walls of a deep, sheltered bay with dentex, amberjack and sea bream.
- 6
The Barge
Wreck of a barge about 50 m long, lying on the bottom between 5 and 20 m.
- 7
Asteris Island
Rocky crest in mid-channel between Kefalonia and Ithaca, good for octopus, morays and nudibranchs.
Site guides
Reef
A rocky crest in mid-channel whose top forms a little island
Cave & cavern
Shafts of light turning the cave chambers an intense blue
Cave & cavern
Several dark rooms and floors stacked inside one long cave
Cave & cavern
Three small roof holes opening into a bell-shaped grotto
Cave & cavern
A massive cave with a huge opening in its roof
How to get to Kefalonia & Ithaca
Kefalonia's airport (EFL) is about 10 km south of Argostoli. Agia Efimia and Sami, the two main dive bases, are 40–50 minutes from Argostoli by car; Fiskardo is in the island's north. Ferries link Sami and Fiskardo with Ithaca, and Sami with Patras.
Photos from Kefalonia & Ithaca
Fæ · CC BY-SA 3.0
clurr · CC BY 2.0
Questions divers ask
Do I need an Advanced certificate to dive Kefalonia?+
Not for the Blue Cave, which stays around 20 m and suits Open Water divers. The Cyclops grotto off Ithaca is rated Advanced and exits at 40 m, and the Second World War wreck off Sami, at 25–35 m, also needs Advanced.
When is the best time to dive Kefalonia and Ithaca?+
May–June and September–October, for clear water and smaller groups. Visibility peaks in June and September, and the sea is warmest in August at around 26 °C.
Is the diving from shore or by boat?+
By boat. Most of the Fiskardo sites are less than 20 minutes from the harbour, and the same boats cross the channel to the Cyclops grotto off Ithaca and to Asteris Island.
How do I reach the dive centres on Kefalonia?+
Fly into Kefalonia airport (EFL), south of Argostoli. Agia Efimia and Sami are 40–50 minutes away by car, and ferries from Sami and Fiskardo continue to Ithaca.
Sources
- Fiskardo Divers — Fiskardo Divers
- The Temple — Fiskardo Divers
- The Cyclops — Fiskardo Divers
- Asteris Island — Fiskardo Divers
- The Barge — Fiskardo Divers
- Scuba Diving in Kefalonia — Kefalonia.gr
- Cephalonia — Wikipedia
- Dive sites — Fiskardo Divers
- Argostólion average sea temperature — seatemperature.org
Photo credits
- Aerial view of a deep blue gulf leading into a long sheltered bay, with green hills, a small islet and a white town at the far end by auteur, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Steep Kefalonia coastline dropping into deep blue water, with a rocky headland and hazy mountains behind by Fæ, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Clear turquoise shallows in front of green hills across the water, with two moored sailing boats on the right by clurr, CC BY 2.0, via Openverse
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