Milos is a volcanic island in the western Cyclades, and its first dive school works the triangle of Milos, Kimolos and Poliegos. The diving follows the geology: underwater cliffs and hidden tunnels at Kleftiko and Papafragas, a cave at Mitakas reached from the beach, and two wrecks, the cargo ship Africa off the shore and a wooden fishing boat near Firopotamos. Gentle currents keep most of it within reach of newer divers.
About diving in Milos & Kimolos
Boat trips leave from Adamas, the port that serves as the hub for dive centres, and a speedboat runs dives to Kleftiko, Sykia, Gerondas and Gerakas. For certified divers the same Adamas centre also drives to the shore sites by car, pairing the Africa wreck with the cave at Mitakas. Kleftiko can only be reached by boat and depends on the weather, so its days are never guaranteed. A second school, based in Pollonia, dives the triangle of Milos, Kimolos and nearby Poliegos.
The underwater landscape is volcanic, a mix of rock formations, caves and reefs. At Kleftiko and Papafragas underwater cliffs are threaded with hidden tunnels, and schools of groupers and barracuda gather alongside octopus. The Mitakas cave runs 50 m into the rock and holds a lot of sea life. Two wrecks add variety: the Africa, a 100 m cargo ship that sank in 2003, lies in the shallows, and a wooden fishing boat rests on sand off Firopotamos in the north.
Gentle currents and clear water make Milos accessible for beginners while still holding interest for experienced divers. The Mitakas cave is an easy dive even for Open Water divers, and the Firopotamos wreck at 35 m suits intermediate divers with Open Water certification and basic wreck experience. The nearest hyperbaric chamber is about 150 km away in Athens, so travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is essential before diving on the island.
Best time to dive Milos & Kimolos
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair |
The Pollonia centre dives from April to November and is closed through the winter months. The warm, calm stretch runs from May to October, and within it May to June is the first of two best windows. In July and August the meltemi wind can close the boat-only Kleftiko site for several days at a time. September and October are the second best window. February has the coldest water and August the warmest.
Dive types & marine life
Schools of groupers and barracuda along the cliffs and tunnels of Kleftiko and Papafragas, with octopus in the same rock, are the headline animals; the Mitakas cave also holds a lot of sea life. No month is singled out for any of them.
- Cave & cavern
- Wreck
- Groupers
- Barracuda
- Octopus & cuttlefish
Best dive sites in Milos & Kimolos
- 1
Kleftiko
Boat-only site of underwater cliffs and hidden tunnels, home to schools of groupers and barracuda.
- 2
Papafragas
Three narrow sea inlets carved into white volcanic cliff on the north coast.
- 3
Mitakas Cave
Shore cave 50 m long with its entrance at 6 m, easy enough for Open Water divers.
- 4
Africa Shipwreck
Cargo ship 100 m long, sunk in 2003 and dived from the shore to a maximum of 10 m.
- 5
Firopotamos Wreck
Wooden fishing boat on a sandy seabed at 35 m near the northern village of Firopotamos.
Site guides
Wreck
Engine and machinery exposed inside a wave-broken cargo boat
Cave & cavern
A 50 m cavern entered straight from the shore
Linked chambers and arches beneath the Kleftiko sea caves
How to get to Milos & Kimolos
Milos Island National Airport (MLO) has flights from Athens and Thessaloniki plus seasonal connections from Europe. Ferries link Milos with Piraeus, Santorini and the nearby Cyclades. Dive centres work from Adamas, the port, and from Pollonia.
Photos from Milos & Kimolos
dronepicr · CC BY 2.0
Dive videos
Polyaigos Diving – Πολύαιγος, Cyclades, Greece · akouris on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Can Open Water divers dive the Mitakas cave?+
Yes. It is a shore dive into a cave 50 m long with its entrance at 6 m, and it is rated an easy dive even for Open Water divers.
What can stop a Kleftiko dive?+
Kleftiko is reached only by boat and depends on the weather. In July and August the meltemi wind can close it for days, so May, June, September and October give better odds.
Where is the nearest recompression chamber?+
The nearest hyperbaric chamber is about 150 km away in Athens, which makes travel insurance with medical evacuation cover essential.
Are there shore dives on Milos?+
Yes. Certified divers are driven to the shore sites by car; the Africa wreck, at most 10 m deep, and the Mitakas cave are both entered from the beach.
Sources
- Diving Milos | PADI — PADI
- Milos Diving Center — Milos Diving Center
- Dive in Milos – For certified divers — Dive in Milos
- Dive in Milos — Dive in Milos
- Milos Diving Center in Milos — Greeka
- Milos diving guide — TripBase
- Dive review of Milos Diving Center — Undercurrent
- Mílos Average Sea Temperatures — seatemperature.org
Photo credits
- Aerial view of white volcanic rock around a narrow turquoise inlet opening to dark blue sea, with a few swimmers and sunbathers by dronepicr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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