Mediterranean · Greece
Lefkada & Meganisi
The wall and reef under the Cape Ducato lighthouse, dropping to 40 m
Lefkada is a Greek island with a dive scene of its own, and Meganisi lies a frequent ferry ride from Nidri on its south-east coast. Boat diving runs from Vassiliki in the south, with pick-ups at Nidri and Sivota for double dives, over rock walls, rifts and pinnacles: the wall under the Cape Ducato lighthouse, the sheer Abyssal wall and the rift at Island. Shallow sites such as Americano and Kastri keep newer divers busy while the deep walls wait for the experienced.
About diving in Lefkada & Meganisi
Diving trips run every day, by boat or, from one centre, by vehicle. The Vassiliki base runs a morning double or single dive and an afternoon single dive, and divers staying in Nidri or Sivota who book a double dive can arrange a transfer. Sites are picked the day before, by the weather and the divers' experience. The nearest reefs are close: Americano is a 5-minute ride from the shop. For the more remote sites the other Lefkada centre keeps 7.5 m and 5.5 m RIBs and an 11 m cruise boat.
The seabed is rock, cut into pinnacles, cracks and walls. Americano is a shallow field of rock formations and pinnacles from 2 to 15 m, with sea breams, sand perch, parrotfish, octopuses and many nudibranchs. Kastri starts in a sheltered bay and runs to 25 m around a large rock split by cracks and swim-throughs. Abyssal is a sheer wall of corals and sponges, and Island is a rift through unusual geological formations, with hidden nooks to explore along the way.
Lefkada splits by experience. Americano and Kastri are open to all levels, introductory dives start at 8 years old and full courses from age 10. The headline sites ask more. The lighthouse carries strong currents and is only for experienced divers with expert guidance, and Abyssal descends to 40 m. Every diver fills in a medical questionnaire, and any answer of yes means a doctor's clearance is needed before the first dive.
Best time to dive Lefkada & Meganisi
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair |
No month stands out as best: trips run every day, and charter flights reach Preveza only from April to October.
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Dive types & marine life
Groupers, sea breams and parrotfish crowd Kastri, where Triton shells, eels and octopuses are common sightings. The lighthouse is known for lobsters. Americano's shallow rock holds parrotfish, sand perch, octopuses and a large population of nudibranchs.
- Wall
- Reef
- Groupers
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Nudibranchs
Best dive sites in Lefkada & Meganisi
- 1
Light House
Wall and reef off Cape Ducato in southern Lefkada, to 40 m, with strong currents and lobsters.
- 2
Abyssal
Sheer wall of corals and sponges dropping to 40 m, for experienced divers.
- 3
Island
Rift dive through unusual geological formations.
- 4
Americano
Rock formations and pinnacles from 2 to 15 m, open to every certification level.
- 5
Kastri
Reef where part of an ancient amphora has grown into the rock.
Site guides
Wall
A sheer vertical face hung with corals and sponges
Reef
Nudibranchs by the dozen on shallow rock pinnacles
Reef
A ghost net merged into the reef on the way down
Wall
A small cave at 9 m, a haven for large anemones and cardinal fish
Reef
Swim-throughs and drop-offs between underwater valleys and hills
Reef
Part of an ancient amphora grown into the reef
Wall
Lobsters on the wall below the Cape Ducato lighthouse
How to get to Lefkada & Meganisi
The airport near Preveza is a 20-minute drive from Lefkas town at the island's north tip, with charter flights from April to October. One dive centre has a beachfront shop at Vassiliki on the southern coast and the other is at Nikiana; ferries to Meganisi run frequently from Nidri.
Photos from Lefkada & Meganisi
Ian Muirhead · CC BY-SA 3.0
Questions divers ask
What experience does the Cape Ducato lighthouse dive need?+
The lighthouse site reaches 40 m and carries strong currents, so it is kept for experienced divers with expert guidance. Americano, at 2 to 15 m, takes every certification level.
Is there a minimum age for diving on Lefkada?+
Introductory dives start at 8 years old, and full diving courses are available from age 10.
Can divers staying in Nidri join the boat dives?+
Yes, for a double dive. Divers staying in Nidri or Sivota can arrange a transfer to and from the Vassiliki base, which runs the trips to the southern sites.
Sources
- Dive sites - Nautilus Diving Club — Nautilus Diving Club
- Nautilus Diving Club — Nautilus Diving Club
- About - Lefkas Diving Center — Lefkas Diving Center
- Nidri Average Sea Temperatures — SeaTemperature.org
- Lefkada – Wikivoyage — Wikivoyage
- Certified Divers - Nautilus Diving Club — Nautilus Diving Club
Photo credits
- A white wooden fishing boat with red and blue trim crosses calm turquoise water past an olive-covered headland with a rocky shore by Ian Muirhead, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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