Kleftiko is the best-known dive on Milos: the underwater continuation of the sea caves on the island's south-west coast, reachable only by boat. Divers come for the volcanic rock shaped into chambers, arches and grottos, and for the cliffs and tunnels that hold groupers, barracuda and octopus.
Also known as Kleftiko, Kleftiko Sea Caves.
Where it is and how deep
36.6522° N, 24.3330° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive follows the sea caves below the waterline, through interconnected chambers, natural arches and grottos filled with clear Aegean water, all within 18 m. Moray eels emerge from crevices in the volcanic walls, octopus gather on the floor and scorpionfish lie camouflaged against the rock.
Marine life and season
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Groupers
- Barracuda
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair |
Season follows Milos & Kimolos: May, June, September and October give calm water with fewer crowds; the July and August meltemi can shut Kleftiko for days.
Know before you go
- The Meltemi wind in July and August can make the site undiveable for days at a time.
Dive videos
MILOS-KLEFTIKO UNDER SEA · vuku78 on YouTube
Questions divers ask
When can Kleftiko be dived?+
Kleftiko is reached only by boat and depends on the weather. The Meltemi wind of July and August can close it for days, so trips outside those months are more reliable.
Sources
- Milos Diving Guide — TripBase
- Diving in Milos — PADI
Photo credits
- Aerial view of white cliffs carved into arches and sea caves above turquoise water, with sailing boats anchored and a scrubby hill behind by dronepicr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
More dive sites in Milos & Kimolos
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Engine and machinery exposed inside a wave-broken cargo boat
Cave & cavern
A 50 m cavern entered straight from the shore
Similar dives elsewhere
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Cave & cavern
Fara
Lesbos · Greece
A round cave chamber lined with red, yellow and orange sponges
Light-filled entrance caverns at 15 m, one leading into a 2 km cave
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