Depth: 5m-36m
Visibility:30m
Access: boat dive
Level: Scuba diver +
Description: Our new dive spot got the name “Zebra Garden” thanks to the dozen of nudibrachs we count every time we go for a dive. The rich “garden” of sponges & soft corals make it look like a garden, therefore “Zebra Garden” was born.
If nudies are your thing, you should not miss this dive whilst in Crete.
Depth: 0m – 40m
Visibility: 30m
Access: Shore dive
Level: Scuba diver+
Description: Typical Mediterranean Reef. The great visibility combined with the dramatic formations of the boulders creates an amazing terrain for a relaxing dive.
Depth: 5m-24m
Visibility: 25m
Access: boat dive
Level: Scuba Diver+
Description: Beautiful wall slide with swim through rock formations.
Depth: 0m-33m
Visibility: 30m
Access: Shore dive
Level: Beginners +
Description: Shinaria beach is located 33km south of Rethymno town, in the wider area of Plakias.
This wonderful beach features a rocky seabed small swim through caves and crystal clear waters.
Experienced divers make wall dives along the drop-off on the left edge and a impressive swim through cave dive along just around the right corner.
Depth: 1m-9m
Visibility: night dive
Access: boat dive
Level: Open Water +
Description: This Majestic cave is probably the best dive site Crete has to offer. Explore the fossils of an elephant in a submerged cavern in Crete with 2 magnificent domes. Admire unique formations of stalactites and stalagmites.
Our diamond, and unique dive site is the amazing “Elephant Cave”. Since operating the dive center, this dive site has been rated from experienced divers from all around the globe as one of their top 10 best dive sites around the world.
The submarine Cave of Elephants is located in Drepano area of Akrotiri, in Chania prefecture and out of Souda Bay.
For this dive site, we gather up in our dive center no2 located in Georgioupolis, right in front of the Kalivaki beach.
History of the Elephant cave:
A cavern of stunning beauty was the last home of a group of rare elephants that lived in Vamos, thousands of years ago. When the sea level rose, an unsurpassable wall of water blocked the access to this stunning natural monument, protecting it from man’s destructive interference.
A series of incredible coincidences and games of fate had to happen for the cave to be discovered and explored, in year 2000. It was accidentally discovered by a local fisher during underwater fishing.
Stunning combinations of white and red stalagmites and stalactites cast a spell to every diver been there. It was a unique discovery, as the laboratory and the scientific announcements that followed, have proved. The elephant of the cave had characteristics that have not been found anywhere else. And so scientist gave it the name “Elephas Chaniensis”.
After detailed search, all of the bones that were not stuck to the caver’s floor were taken to department of Historic Geology and Paleontology of the University of Athens. As it was proven the fossils bones belonged to elephants and deer. Taking under consideration the data collected, the age of the Cretan Elephant estimate somewhere between 50.000 and 60.000 years old.
Elephant cave
DESCRIPTION
The caverns entrance is 3,5 to 10 metres deep and is about 9 metres wide. Dark and mysterious, it is only a few metres away from the – vertical at this point- seashore.
THE CEILING
Emerges from the water, 40 metres away from the caver’s entrance. It’s highest point is 13 metres above the surface.
THE STATIGRAPHY
The upper layer consists mostly of dwarf deer and micro mammals. In the underlying layers we find Elephas Chaniensis and normal deer bones. Two molars attached to the cave floor, 3m below water surface
THE BOTTOM
Its entire surface is covered by water. The depth ranges from a few centimetres to 4m.
THE DIMENSIONS
The main cave chamber is 120m long and its average width is 25m. The caves overall length is 160m long.
THE COLOR RED
Gorgeous white and red formations decorate the ceiling and floor.
The red stalagmites owe their colour to the amount of aluminium and iron oxide contained in the caverns stratum.stalctites stalagmite
Please feel free to contact us for any questions or bookings.
Depth: 4m- 37m
Visibility: 30m
Access: boat dive
Level: Open Water +
Description: A breath taking sharp wall going vertically down to 37m.
The blue of these waters is a clear electric shade that seems endless when you stare straight down. The Great Wall itself is an eye-widening 30-metre underwater cliff that’s teeming downwards.
Depth: 5m-36m
Visibility:30m
Access: boat dive
Level: Scuba diver +
Description: Huge boulders, a few old anchors can be found in the deeper parts of the dive site. Clear waters, pretty oceanography with plenty small marine life to be admired.
