Chania, Crete dive sites

The cave contains fossilised remains of Deinotherium, an extinct relative of the elephant that lived during the Pleistocene era. The bones were discovered in 1999 by diver and speleologist Yiannis Papadakis. The fossils are embedded in the cave walls and floor of the air chamber above the waterline, and they are protected as a significant paleontological site. Touching or removing any material from the cave is strictly prohibited.

Open Water certification is sufficient as the submerged entrance tunnel is short, approximately 10 metres long, and the maximum depth is around 18 metres. However, comfort with overhead environments is essential as you swim through the submerged passage before surfacing in the air chamber. A local guide is mandatory, and dive centres in Chania run regular trips to the cave during summer.

The cave is located on the western coast of the Akrotiri Peninsula near Chania and is accessible only from the sea. Dive boats depart from Chania or Marathi harbour and the journey takes about 30 minutes. There is no land access to the cave entrance. Diving is weather-dependent as the entrance faces open water and can be affected by northerly winds. Most operators schedule visits during calm weather windows.