Paros & Naxos · Greece · Pinnacle
Ayers Reef
A single rock out of a Posidonia meadow at 25 m, a hundred metres from Tripiti
Area photo: kallerna · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ayers Reef is a lone rock rising from a Posidonia meadow at around 25 m, a hundred metres off the Tripiti dive site. The depth of its base makes it an Advanced dive and the whole site is worked as a single pinnacle: lionfish rest on the rock with moray eels in the holes, schools of seabream and damselfish hang around it, and the surfaces carry sponges of several species and starfish.
Where it is and how deep
36.9759° N, 25.1733° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The boat drops you a hundred metres off Tripiti. Descend onto the rock, which emerges from a Posidonia meadow at around 25 m, so the base of the dive is its deepest point and the profile works upwards from there. Because of that starting depth the site is listed for advanced divers or higher only, and the plan is agreed on the boat.
Work around the rock from its base. Lionfish are often seen resting on the rock, moray eels hide in the cracks, and schools of seabream and damselfish hang around the reef. On the rock itself are various species of sponge and starfish. How far up the rock rises is not published, so the shallow end of the profile and the ascent are set by the guide.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Prime | Good | Good | Prime | Good | Off-season | Off-season |
Season follows Paros & Naxos: The Naxos centre opens mid-April to early November. The meltemi blows mid-May to mid-September, most constant in July and August, when boats keep to moorings sheltered from the north wind.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Ayers Reef?+
The rock rises from a Posidonia meadow at around 25 m, which is the deepest point of the dive.
What level do you need for Ayers Reef?+
Advanced or higher only, because the base of the rock sits at around 25 m.
Sources
- Ayers Reef — Scubago
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