The Athenian Riviera holds the top spot in the Athenians’ preference for short-distance breaks, especially in the summer months, and attracts thousands of visitors each year, and thus it can be described as a mini paradise, so close to, and, at the same time, so far away from the urban centre.
To be more precise we should be speaking of the Attic Riviera as the beach stretches from Palaio Faliro until Sounio.
So, this magical coastline is not just great for swimming, walking around, and having great food, but it also offers the chance – among other things – for great dives. In many locations you can go for a shore dive, but for other locations the use of a boat is necessary, as they are on nearby isles and skerries. We’re going to attempt to map these locations, for the fans of scuba diving but also for those who wish to enter a new marine world.
Labros
Perhaps the best-known location among scuba divers. It’s right across the Vouliagmeni lake and it’s highly unlikely that a certified scuba diver hasn’t visited it. It’s easily accessible – with the exception of some steps you need to go down (and then back up) with your gear. The central point is a motorbike that has been in the sea bottom for decades. Apart from that, the rocks near the shore are the home of a large number of marine fauna. This is one of the favourite destinations for those who love diving at night. It’s also ideal for beginners, as it’s just 14 metres deep.
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2nd Limanaki
Those who scuba dive know the “well” and the myths related to it very well. The second bay (limanaki) of Vouliagmeni, where the famous canteen is, is the meeting spot for those brave enough to go down (and then back up again) the path and steps carrying their gear on their back. The reward is a dive in something that resembles a cave but isn’t one. Just a few metres from the shore, at 10-11 metres depth, there’s a hole that easily fits two divers together and reaches 29 metres depth. Entering the darkness from the light you feel the explorer inside you come out. But when you raise your head you can enjoy the light and the lovely bright blue colour and the bubbles you’re leaving above you.
But the 2nd Limanaki isn’t only the above. If you swim to the right – as you’re looking at the sea – side of the rocks and start your dive there you’ll soon reach a lovely reef that has many fish, nudibranchs, and other species.
Regardless of whether you know of the “well” or the reef, you need to be a more experienced diver, with at least a second level scuba diving certification, due to the depth.
Pontikonisi
A small island across the bay of Varkiza, Pontikonisi seems ideal for scuba diving. The northeast side with the shallower waters is relaxing even for beginner divers, while the southwest side is more exciting – especially for more advanced divers. There you can enjoy a wonderful wall, with unique colours at the darker parts, and also a lot of marine life.
It’s a boat dive, so, if you don’t have a boat, you can go to one of the local diving centres. We recommend Seahorse.
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Pothitos
The little island across the well-known hotel “Lagonisi Resort” is a lovely destination for divers, at least second level divers, so that you can reach some of the more beautiful parts. The south part of the island is goes in quite deep, at some parts abruptly, like a wall, at others like a slope. There are many caverns and often impressive fish like large groupers take shelter here. Another magnificent thing is the colours of the sponges, especially where the sun doesn’t reach.
Access here is only by boat, and apart from going on your own boat, you can also go with one of the local diving centres. We recommend Diveness or Aqualized Dive Adventures or Seahorse.
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Αrsida or Artzintas
The skerry of Arsida, or Artzida as many call it, is the perfect spot to get a taste of cave diving, without really getting into a cave. At the south side and at 7 metres deep, the rocks create a lovely gorge that looks like a real cave. If you’re there at the right time – depending on the season – you can enjoy amazing tricks of light, reflecting on the water’s surface and entering the gorge in a spectacular way. Two impressive ceriantharians and amazing colours on the walls contribute to the cinematic setting.
The rest of the dive at this location is also impressive, if you head east northeast. A lovely wall with plenty of marine life and a large English style anchor stuck for decades at around 30 metres deep.
This location is ideal for all levels of divers. Access is by boat and you must, like with Pothitos, have your own boat or go with a local diving centre. Again, we recommend Diveness or Aqualized Dive Adventures.
Legrena (aftokinita/cars)
A real car cemetery at 20-35 metres deep awaits the brave in Legrena. And we say the brave because if you choose to go there alone, and not on a boat, you’ll have to carry your gear for some distance on the rocks and then swim on the surface for about 20 minutes.
Of course the sight is totally rewarding. After all, you don’t see everyday around 10 cars, maybe more, “parked” in the bottom of the sea. The return is also very beautiful. There is a relatively steep wall that almost always has marine life on it.
If you don’t feel like carrying your gear and then swimming to the location, we’d recommend Diveness or Aqualized Dive Adventures.
Legrena (fish farm)
Another very promising spot in Legrena. Access is very easy to get in but harder when you get out. The wall is more than rewarding though. You’ll almost definitely come across life there.
For those who want to go even deeper, just on the verge of recreational scuba diving, it’s very easy, since this place becomes 40 metres deep fast. A tour around the open waters is also very interesting. The presence of fish farming cages in the past years often attracts visitors like large tunas and dolphins.
Diving here is for all levels of divers, but the more inexperienced should be careful not to overextend themselves.
Patroklos (“Kira Leni” shipwreck)
The skerry of Patroklos (Gaidouronisi), southwest of Sounio, is the location of one of the deadliest shipwrecks on the planet. With 4.074 victims, it’s 3rd on the macabre list. And still, it’s not very famous, while there aren’t many things left to see if you dive there.
Patroklos though has another shipwreck for divers. “Kira Leni” is southwest of the skerry and only one half of the ship remains. Even so, the stern is lying on the bottom in a way that creates an impressive setting. Usually there’s an abundance of marine life there.
It’s a boat dive, so if you don’t have a boat you can go with a local diving centre. As before, we recommend Diveness ή Aqualized Dive Adventures.
Μakronisos (Piper)
At the northwest point of Makronisos, divers can explore a sunken airplane at 18 metres depth. It’s a small Piper aircraft that’s lost one of its wings but it’s still very interesting to look at.
The place is particularly beautiful as you leave the sunken Piper behind and keep on swimming. The rocky part is beautifully formed and there are many inhabitants there, making it an even more exciting dive.
It’s good for all levels of divers, but you’ll need a boat. We recommend the Planet Blue dive centre.
Makronisos (“Portugal” shipwreck)
This location is best for more experienced divers, as the “Portugal” shipwreck is deeper than 20 metres and not close to the shore of Makronisos. What makes this location special is that you can only see half the ship, and actually in ruins, as the other half is further in the north, towards the Tripiti reef.
Apart from giving you the satisfaction of a slightly more challenging dive, this particular location is especially interesting as the shipwreck has now turned into an artificial reef and has gathered a lot of marine life.
Here too you need a boat, and, again, we recommend Planet Blue.
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Mikrolimano (Profitis Ilias, Lavrio)
Profitis Ilias is probably the most popular scuba diving spot on Attica’s east coast – and rightfully so. The particularly easy access and the beautiful seabed, ideal for divers of all levels, make the spot quite attractive.
The seabed formation is gorgeous, especially if you reach the end of the cape, and it’s home to many fishes. There’s also a variety of other marine life there.
Vgethi
Vgethi is one of the “forgotten” spots in Attica. This has to do more with its harder access, due to the construction of a home in recent years, than with its beauty. If you have a 4×4 car, you can reach the ideal entry spot, alternatively you’ll have to be ready to swim for about 15 minutes on the surface, to reach the skerry right across.
There’s an impressive steep wall at the east side, and, given that’s in the open sea, it’s not at all unlikely that you’ll come across open water marine life. It’s a location where you’ll enjoy every underwater breath you take.
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Kakia Thalassa (Wall towards Daskalio)
This is another spot with relatively hard access and that’s the reason most divers avoid it. To reach the sea you need to climb down a somewhat steep spot, by the wall of a private residence, and then go down at least 30 steps, and of course the return road is even harder as it’s a steep uphill path.
But the dive is worth it. It begins at a calm little bay and gradually it reaches the limits of recreational diving, with a beautiful beach morphology and a lot of marine life.
Kakia Thalassa (nisaki)
When you walk down to the beach Kakia Thalassa, if instead of going to the beach you head toward your left, a few metres away from the shore you’ll see a small skerry. It’s another spot worth exploring.
Access is easy and you only need to swim a little to reach the islet. Its east side is gorgeous, with a very interesting seabed. There’s a variety of depths for all levels of divers and it’s common to have beautiful encounters. The shallow part between the coast and the skerry is also quite interesting, and you can enjoy it at the end of your dive.
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Porto Rafti (Raftis, Koroni, Tourkolimano, Mavroneri)
At Porto Rafti you can find a variety of diving spots, which all are of extreme interest. You just need to have a boat or go with one of the diving centres’ teams. If you’re in the mood for a short walk and then a short swim, you can access Koroni without a boat, but not the other locations.
What’s certain is that whichever of the four locations you choose you won’t be disappointed. The landscape and the marine life you’ll encounter will definitely reward you. The small caves in Raftis are the most impressive. While the cherry on top is the large boat that lies sunken outside Tourkolimano, but it’s for advanced divers only.
If you don’t have a boat, we recommend the diving centre Aqua Team.
Hamolia (Mikri Hamolia beach)
This is a spot that’s ideal for not very experienced, first level divers. Access is extremely easy, in the beginning the waters are shallow and allow you to adjust to the underwater environment. When you reach the beach’s small point at the right end, a rocky part starts that has a lot of interest as far as marine life is concerned. And if you’re lucky, you might even have a magical encounter with a sea turtle, that is supposed to have a preference for this part, according to the beach’s regulars.
Dipsa or Spitha (“Klio” shipwreck)
This is a small skerry just outside the bay of Marathonas. There you can enjoy the “Klio” shipwreck, as well as a wonderful wall on the other side. The shipwreck is at the southeast part and with the passing of time has been destroyed but looking at it from above is very impressive as it gives the impression of looking at a fish skeleton.
On the northeast side the wall is truly wonderful, and there’s usually a lot of life, while a small opening creates a little cavern with incredible colours inside which make the dive a real treat.
Of course, access is only by boat and you’ll have to go with a local diving centre if you don’t have your own boat. We recommend Kanelakis Diving Experiences.
Platourada (“Kassandra” shipwreck)
This is a spot where you can see half a shipwreck. The ship “Kassandra”, that hit the skerry Platourada, has remained intact from the middle up to its stern, and is standing upright on the sea bottom, while the other half has been destroyed and there are remains scattered on the seabed in the shallower parts.
What makes the shipwreck more interesting is that divers can easily wander around the decks. The fact that it’s right on the skerry’s wall has helped it become an extension of the reef and thus be the home of a lot of marine life.
This location can only be reached by boat, so if you don’t have a boat we recommend Kanelakis Diving Experiences.
There are more options for recreational scuba diving, especially if you have a boat, then the choices seem endless. Here, we presented the ones we think are the most interesting ones.
