Paros & Naxos · Greece · Cave & cavern · Wall
Panteronisi
Surface inside the cavern beneath live stalactites, lit by blue light from below
Photo: SNappa2006 · CC BY 2.0
Panteronisi is a wall-and-cavern dive on the islet of the same name in the strait between Paros and Antiparos, about 10 minutes out by boat. The site's maximum is 40 m and the choice is whether to go deep along the wall first or keep shallow before turning into the cave, which opens through a very large underwater entrance between 12 and 4 m and leads to a chamber where divers surface among still-forming stalactites.
Also known as Panderonisi, Grotte de Panderonissi.
Where it is and how deep
36.9689° N, 25.1226° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The boat ride is about 10 minutes. The dive can be run two ways: deep along the wall first and into the cave at the end, or shallower along the wall from the start with the cave as the main event. On the deep version the operator guides divers to 25 to 30 m to look for dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus) and gold-blotch groupers (Epinephelus costae) before working back up towards the cave entrance.
The cave has three entrances. The main one is very large and sits between 12 m, the deepest point of the cave, and 4 m, and is the easy way in. The second is smaller but still easily accessible; the third is more technical. Inside, the rock holds crabs, shrimps, sponges, anemones, soft corals and shells of several kinds. You can reach the water's surface inside the cavern: there, stalactites are still forming, and blue light comes up from below.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
- Macro critters
| 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.
Know before you go
- The cavern is fragile: the guides require good buoyancy control so fins and gear do not damage the formations.
- The site reaches 40 m and is listed as Advanced; agree a maximum depth with the guide before the deep leg.
- Three entrances of different sizes: the third is described as more technical, so follow the guide's choice of opening.
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Panteronisi cave?+
The cave itself lies between 12 m at its deepest and 4 m at the top of the main entrance. The operator lists 40 m as the site maximum and guides the deep part at 25 to 30 m for groupers.
Can you surface inside the Panteronisi cavern?+
Yes. Divers can reach the water's surface inside the cavern, where stalactites are still forming and blue light comes up from below.
What level do you need for Panteronisi?+
The operator lists it as an Advanced dive, with good buoyancy control required to avoid damaging the cave. It is a 10-minute boat ride.
Sources
- Panteronisi — Scubago
- Les meilleurs sites de plongée de Paros — Cycladic Diving
Photo credits
- View from the Panteronisi islet across the strait toward Antiparos, with nearby islets in the distance by SNappa2006, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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