Mediterranean · Greece
Skopelos
A well-preserved 83 m cargo wreck sitting upright in sheltered Panormos Bay
Skopelos is the greenest island of the Northern Sporades. The main draw is the Christoforos, an 83 m cargo ship sitting upright on sand in Panormos Bay a short boat ride from the dive centre dock. Around the rest of the island the dives are walls and reefs: Agnontas and the Amarantos wall, the fish-filled reef at Milia and a small canyon off Dasia Island. The wreck is kept for divers with deep experience.
About diving in Skopelos
The Christoforos lies a two-minute boat ride from the dive centre dock, so it works well as the first dive of the day. The site is sheltered enough to be dived in all but the worst weather, and although it is deep, the water over it is usually clear with little to no current. Diving around the island is only allowed in certain areas set aside to protect marine life, and some of the sites can be challenging.
Diving on the Christoforos has only been allowed since 2018, so the wreck, which sits less than 200 m from shore, is very well preserved. Her outline appears from the blue at about 15 m on the descent line, and a 30 m dive takes in a good view of the hull. Schools of fish, electric blue nudibranchs, a large moray and a resident scorpionfish live on her. Elsewhere the coast offers walls and reefs, with many small caves at Milia holding shrimps and crabs.
The island suits divers who want one serious wreck in calm, clear water with mild currents, backed by several sites that take divers of all levels. The deck at 32 to 35 m keeps the Christoforos for divers with deep experience, and a wreck that large needs a few dives to do it justice. The site is also a training ground for the Tec 40 and Tec 45 programmes offered on the island.
Best time to dive Skopelos
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair |
Conditions are best from April to October; the water runs from about 14 °C in March to 26 °C in August.
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Dive types & marine life
Grouper, bream and octopus live on the Milia reef, while barracuda and groupers gather on the Agnontas wall, where a sunfish is a rare sighting.
- Wreck
- Wall
- Reef
- Groupers
- Barracuda
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Nudibranchs
Best dive sites in Skopelos
- 1
Christoforos Wreck
An 83 m cargo ship sitting upright on sand at 43 m in Panormos Bay.
- 2
Agnontas
Steep wall dropping to 30 m, a site for more experienced divers.
- 3
Milia
Reef with many small caves, known for its clear water and abundance of fish.
- 4
Amarantos Wall
A wall running out at right angles to the shore, starting from 5 m.
- 5
Dasia Canyon
A small canyon cut into the north cape of Dasia Island.
Site guides
Wall
A wall running straight out from the shore, with rock formations on top
Wreck
An 83 m collier standing upright on the sand as if still under way
Cave & cavern
A rock canyon at the end of a swim past hundreds of nudibranchs
Wall
A tunnel through the cape with daylight pouring in through its roof
Reef
Rocky slopes of a town bay, shallow enough for a first dive
How to get to Skopelos
Skopelos has no airport. In summer, flights from Greece and other European cities land on neighbouring Skiathos, and ferries run from Volos and Agios Konstantinos on the mainland. Skopelos Dive Center works from stations in Skopelos town and Panormos.
Photos from Skopelos
Alex Blăjan alexb · CC0
Dive videos
Skopelos Dive Center - 22 July 2017 - Guides Dive "Tripiti" spot · Skopelos Dive Center (Skopelos port base) on YouTube
🎬 HD Video: Scuba Diving in Skopelos · MaTsa on YouTube
Questions divers ask
What certification is needed to dive the Christoforos wreck?+
The wreck sits at 43 m with the deck at 32 to 35 m, so it is only open to divers with deep diving experience. A 30 m dive still gives a good view of the hull.
Is the Christoforos wreck affected by weather?+
Rarely. It lies in sheltered Panormos Bay and can be dived in all but the worst weather, usually in clear water with little to no current.
Can technical divers train on Skopelos?+
Yes. The Christoforos is used as a training site for the Tec 40 and Tec 45 programmes offered on the island.
Is there easier diving for beginners on Skopelos?+
Yes. Several sites around the island are accessible to divers of all levels, from beginners to experienced divers, and the currents are mild.
Sources
- Dive Sites - Skopelos Dive Center — Skopelos Dive Center
- Skopelos Dive Center — Skopelos Dive Center
- Christoforos shipwreck — Alonissos Sea Colors
- Mamma Mia diving Skopelos part 2 — Scubaverse
- Diving the Waters of Skopelos — Skopelos.com
- Skopelos sea temperature — seatemperature.org
- Skopelos — Wikivoyage
Photo credits
- Looking straight down on brown boulders at the shoreline, with small waves breaking over them in clear green-blue water. by Alex Blăjan alexb, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Embed
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