Greece is one of the most popular destinations among travel enthusiasts and for many reasons. It boasts the mesmerizing island atmosphere, amazing culture and food and beautiful beaches. Amidst the beaches lies a secluded island that attracts tourists from across the world with its breathtaking atmosphere. The island of Zakynthos or Zante is famous for its landscape, beaches and the birthplace for loggerhead turtles.
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Zankynthos has so much to offer. Apart from the picturesque Navagio Beach, there are some really magical places you can visit on your trip to the island. The Blue Caves start at Agios Nikolaos and continue up to Skinari Cape.
It is the second most rated tourist attraction on the island. There are geological formations created due to erosions under the blue waters of the Ionian Sea. This area is the main spot for scuba diving and hosts a series of limestone arches through which boats can move.
Zakynthos underwater caves can be visited and explored. Let us learn more about the underwater ruins and caves at Zakynthos and see why this place offers such incredible diving spots.
Zakynthos Underwater Caves – INCREDIBLE Diving Spots
Zakynthos Underwater Caves lie to the north of the island near Cape Skinari. According to the cultural belief, gods had accidentally scattered some precious stones in the sea during the creation of the world.
The Greek islands which are so popular for their natural beauty came into existence this way. Zakynthos Island appeared out of the most pretty turquoise pebble falling on the part of the island. And the beautiful color that gives the name to these caves would compel you to believe the stories.
The Ionian Sea is so stunning with coves and beaches with blue water inviting scuba divers from around the world. Nature is at its best at the Keri Peninsula and the crystal-clear waters make it more charming.
The Blue Cave stands at the middle of these beautiful scenes. Any visitor would be mesmerized to see the sunlight reflecting from its water. At the back of the island lay mountainous rocks between green valleys while the soft white sand greets you on the beach as you enjoy the tranquilizing blue waters.
Caves at zakynthos draw thousands of tourists every year and it has turned into one of the most popular diving destinations in Greece. The Blue Caves of Zante are located in the north and succumb into the sea over time.
A major part of the caves is formed out of limestone. What makes these caves more charming is the reflection of the sun on the turquoise water that results in a view that is best enjoyed at sunset and sunrise. It is said that whatever submerges under these waters turn blue.
You can explore these caves by boat or choose to dive in for an out-of-the-world experience. When you take a cruise, the captains often stop at the white arches so that visitors can explore the beauty of the caves fully. Amazing turquoise and blue colors contain some emerald green shades that give you a feeling of being in a unique sight of Greece which is a place of magic according to ancient myths.
The beauty of the cave comes from the great play of water and light, bright colors and shades. When the rays of the sun reflect and refract from the sea waves and reflect on the limestone rocks, such unique and eye-catching effects can be seen. It is also said that the Zakynthos underwater caves have anti-aging and healing properties in their waters.
There is some science behind this because the waters are saturated with various minerals like calcium. Such a composition enables it to make the skin smooth and clean. Inside the caves, the water reaches a height of about 4m. The waters are so clear that each pebble at the base can be clearly seen. This is why this place is so popular among cave diving lovers.
The Blue Caves of Zakynthos Map
The island of Zakynthos is located on the west coast of Greece and lies around 20km away from the mainland. It is spread over an area of 405km and the only way to reach the island is by boat. Though it is small in size, visitors need a car to travel between places. The secluded island is extremely charming and beautiful.
The Blue Caves are situated North of the island along the coastline between Agios Nikolaos and Cape Skinari. Boat is the most convenient way to reach the place. You can either take a cruise ride or hire a small to medium sized boat to sail to the Blue Caves.
If you board a cruise, the crew will make sure you can explore all the aspects of the caves. You can either reach the Blue Caves by boat or swim under the snow-white arches resulting from all these years of wind and water. The best way is to start from the small town of Agios Nikolaos.
However, it is advisable not to go to the caves in bad weather as it gets difficult to get into the caves when waves are strong. Bad weather also poses the risk of breaking rocks. Dawn or sunset is the perfect time to explore the scenery of Blue Caves. There is more to explore at Cape Skinari where you can visit a lake and the old lighthouse named after St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors.
You can find Loggerhead turtles in the Zakynthos Marine Park near Keri. These turtles can be seen swimming in the sea and laying eggs and roaming on the beach.
If you choose to dive along the coasts of this island, you are likely to come across one of these wonderful animals. Tourists visiting Zante also pay a visit to Keri which is at a distance of 40 minutes from the main harbour. It is a beautiful town in the southwest of the island.
Diving in Zakynthos
Zakynthos is one of the most popular diving spots in Greece. Twelve diving destinations can be accessed from the harbour at Keri. Each of these sights offers a unique appeal to diving enthusiasts. As divers get deep into the waters of the Ionian Sea, they can explore stunning marine life along the walls of the caves.
These amazing views provide the opportunity to capture each and every moment with an underwater lens. If you feel excited by the experience of moving through small spaces, you can move to the deeper, darker caves. Don’t forget to carry a strong flashlight with you to help you through dark caves.
Diving in Zakynthos can be expensive if you hire equipment. You can carry your personal gear to save on diving. You can expect to pay €40 for each dive. Air tanks and weights are available for renting at local diving shops at the island. If you are particularly visiting Zakynthos for diving, you can buy diving packages that include diving trips, different spots and equipment. Buying the package can save you a lot of money.
For the perfect diving experience and weather, visit Zakynthos in summer months. The tourist season starts in June and selecting the most appropriate time for diving can add value to your experience. The Ionian Sea is unpredictable and waters can be quite cold at times. Be prepared for chilly sea conditions when you set out to dive.
Ensure a gas-free period of at least 24 hours before and after travelling by plane. Remember to stay safe to make your holiday memorable. If you want to dive right away, travel to the island by boat. Zakynthos caves are the destination that provides a truly magical experience. You can explore the beautiful Ionian Sea and enjoy scuba dive filled with exploration and amazement. The turquoise waters and picturesque setting are sure to inspire and refresh you.
To get a great diving experience at Zakynthos underwater caves, you should visit the island by boat or dive right away for an unforgettable adventure. Visit the caves in the morning to get the best view. You can consider booking for a week to see as many caves as you can and enjoy diving to the best. Diving into the blue waters gives you a mermaid-like feel.
Zakynthos Underwater Cave Diving
There is so much to do in Zakynthos both on land and in the water. Those who love water adventures can enjoy diving, swimming and snorkelling. The island is home to the National Marine Park which was the first of its kind established for the protection of sea turtles. Scuba divers prefer Zakynthos sites because they get to enjoy the beauty of blue waters and they are never over 25km from the coast.
Divers can find diving shops on Zakynthos near the towns of Laganas, Keri and Marathias. These sites are popular because of their closeness to the Marine Park that gives divers a chance to locate sea turtles. Waters in this sea are cold even in summer and you can explore all the diving sites Zakynthos offers.
The Keri Cave dive site offers a series of caves that give you the feeling of an underwater adventurer. This site is developed along the Marathia Cape in the South-West of Zakynthos. A number of caves can be found along the coast some of which offer broad entrances to get in with a boat while others cannot be entered. The caves located at a depth surrounded by cliffs are quite easy to access.
When heading towards the caves, one can stop by one of the small beaches of Marathia Cape and take sunbathe. Mizitres is a small fine sand beach made out of two crags located close to cliffs. As you look at the beach closely, you can see that there is a crack in one of the crags where you can swim and explore so many live starfish. Also, there are two rock structures that you come across along the coast with the bigger one passable with the boat.
To get a unique underwater experience, you can take a torch and start swimming through a series of spectacular caverns full of fascinating marine creatures. As you reach the last chamber, you can experience surfacing through a mix of seawater and sulphur that reduces your vision to a great extent. Surfacing this way may seem fearful but you enjoy seeing bats residing in the Keri Caves.
Other Zakynthos Island Diving Sites
Lakka
For an amazing diving experience, you can head to the Lakka dive site and freefall from a boat to get covered in cool and blue waters of the sea. As you follow the walls, you can notice blennies, sea perch, parrot fish, spy combers and damselfish passing by you.
Then you pass through a majestic picturesque arch and enjoy macro species covering the surface. If you are lucky, you can spot larger aquatic species as you look out into the blue waters. Divers get the chance to spot the famous sea turtles that call the Zakynthos waters their home.
Marathia
To get to the Marathia dive site, you can take a short ferry ride along the limestone cliffs. You may not realize the adventure from the surface but an underwater wonderland awaits you under the waves.
You can get into the waters from the boat and go along the rocky slope to discover a beautiful wall with pockets. This place is great for octopus spotting. Then, you can look for flapjacks and lobsters when the slope ends. Some lucky divers also get to see the Mediterranean monk seal that often hangs out around Keri and surprises divers.
Cave Tunnel
Among the most beautiful diving spots in Zakynthos, the Cave Tunnel can be identified from its big butterfly shape towards the end of the cave.
Experienced divers can get into the dark tunnel by navigating through a maze of crevices and rocks. Let your torch guide you through the tunnel to the butterfly exit scaring off the shrimp along the way.
Dafini
Another beautiful dive site that is sure to mesmerize you, Dafini is a shallow site that suits divers of different skill levels.
As you move through the rocks, you can look for scorpion fish and octopus or explore unique formations. The major attraction of this site is the sunken motorbike which gets you some memorable pictures.
Oktopus
One of the most challenging and adventurous dive sites, Oktopus has rocky formations so huge that divers need to get in and out of huge boulders to move ahead. You can keep an eye for eels, octopus and lobsters hiding in little spaces they find.
You can also find many other species of small and big marine creatures in groups. At the end, you can peep into the tiny crack in the cliff to spot some marine turf before you surface.
Zakynthos Underwater Ruins – What You Should Know?
Zakynthos has an ancient civilization off the coast called ‘lost city’ reported in 2013. It is known worldwide for the underwater structures and colonnades. They have resulted from a natural gas leakage that occurred five million years ago.
The geological phenomenon that took place in the sea was not first believed because it generally occurs in depths. The waters at Zakynthos are quite shallow. However, scientists performed further study of the site and found that those floors and bases were created by the release of a gas from the cracks inside the sea base.
Before this scientific revelation, people believed they had uncovered a lost city in the form of Zakynthos underwater ruins. The structures deep inside the waters seem like ruins of squares and pillars and some kind of ancient civilization. In reality, no signs were found confirming the existence of any human or alien civilization.
The mineral content of the underwater structures was analyzed to find that these were actually created by microorganisms. They contain minerals produced by methane-consuming organisms.
Millions of years ago, the bacteria residing inside the waters found a source of methane gas in the area under the sea. This resulted in the production of dolomite which is a concrete component that settled to form the structures we see today. These structures are more than 2.5 million years old and similar structures can be seen in other oceans as well.