Greece is well known for its variety of beautiful and magical islands, distributed between more than 16,000 kilometers of coastline. The Greek islands are the best places to visit if you are looking for a romantic vacation, nightlife, and wonderful beaches. For those who are more adventurous, you will find a variety of spots to practice scuba diving. 

Scuba divers travel from all over the world to enjoy the hot weather and the incredible coral reefs, deepwater caves, and wrecks that Greece has to offer. Don’t worry, no matter if you are a beginner or a professional, you will find the perfect spot for you. 

We created a list of the top places for scuba diving in Greece. Check them out:

1. Santorini

Santorini is one of the most visited places in the world for its beauty, breathtaking landscapes, and the amazing lifestyle of the island. If you want to scuba dive on this popular island, the incredible Nea Kameni, a volcanic island made up of black lava rock, is one of the top scuba diving spots. 

Once there, you will admire underwater lava formations, sea caves, and interesting marine life that is perfect for exploring. Make sure to visit the southeast side of the island and discover the wreck of Santa Maria, a 34-meter-long steel passenger ship. 

2. Zakynthos 

This island is well known for its amazing nature and its popular diving sites. Head to the uninhabited island of Marathonisi where you might meet the Caretta-caretta sea turtles, as it is a breeding place for these creatures. You will also get to see flying fish, parrotfish, and octopuses.

The Keri Peninsula, the Octopus, and Barracuda reefs are great options, as are the Keri Caves. If you are interested in shipwrecks, check out the wreck of HMS Perseus, in Kefalonia, a British submarine that sank in 1941 during the Second World War. It lies 52 meters below the surface, so we recommend keeping this spot for professional divers only. 

3. Crete

The Elephant’s cave is one of the most visited spots in Crete for diving. Visit the Drepano area, in Akrotiri, to explore this underwater cave full of stalagmites and stalactites of different colors, and the most impressive thing, a fossil of an extinct elephant (you will see his vertebra, teeth, and tusk) and remains of other animal bones have been found in the caves. 

On the south coast, some of the best diving spots in the Mediterranean are also ready to be explored. You will find more quiet diving places, such as the bay of Skinaria, near Plakias, and you might be lucky enough to swim with octopus and eels. For more advanced divers, there is an underwater cavern with excellent visibility. 

In the north of the island, Schinaria beach is a small area where black-fish, octupuses, and many other marine life inhabit, offering you a great experience of diversity while diving in the crystalline waters for better visibility.

4. Mykonos

This party island has plenty of options to do other than the amazing nightlife it offers. The top destination for diving in Mykonos is the Wreck of Anna II, a cargo ship in still good conditions that is perfect to explore and that will surprise you with its 62 meters and the beautiful reef presence in the surroundings. 

Other great diving centers are located on the southern side of the island, such as the beaches of Agios Ioannis, Kalafatis, or Paradise. This last one is very popular for the marine life it offers, so be ready to see different kinds of sponges, starfish, and octopuses. 

5. Lesvos

The unique underwater volcanic formations of Mirmigi Reef, on the northwest coast of Lesvos, along with its interesting topography and incredible marine life, make this place one of the best places to dive in all Greece. Mirmigi reef is located five minutes boat ride from Petra Base, and the depth starts at 5 meters and goes down to 36 meters, with safe underwater stops, making this reef a great spot for beginners.