Ionian Islands dive sites

Yes, encounters with loggerhead sea turtles are common when diving around Marathonisi, particularly from June through October when turtles are most active in Laganas Bay. The turtles feed on sea grass and rest on rocky ledges around the island, and divers who maintain a respectful distance are regularly rewarded with prolonged observations. Diving in the National Marine Park requires booking with licensed operators who follow strict guidelines to minimize disturbance to nesting turtles and their habitat. The park regulations prohibit approaching nesting beaches by boat during evening hours and restrict anchor placement on seagrass beds.

The waters around Marathonisi offer typical Ionian Sea conditions with visibility of 15 to 25 metres, water temperatures from 16 to 26 degrees Celsius seasonally, and generally mild currents. The rocky reef around the island drops gradually to around 25 metres, with boulders, small caves, and seagrass meadows providing diverse habitat. The bay is sheltered from prevailing northwesterly winds, making it accessible on most days during the May to October diving season. A five-millimetre wetsuit is recommended from May through June and September through October, with a three-millimetre suit adequate during high summer.

The National Marine Park of Zakynthos, established in 1999, protects the most important nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles in the Mediterranean. Laganas Bay beaches host hundreds of nests each summer, and the park implements strict protections including beach closures during nesting season, speed restrictions for boats, and regulated access zones. The park's establishment was controversial due to conflicts with tourism development, but it has been credited with stabilizing the nesting population. Marathonisi island itself is an important secondary nesting beach within the park boundaries.

The MV Panagiotis wreck on Navagio Beach itself is a beached vessel lying in the sand and is not accessible for scuba diving due to its location within the protected bay. However, the dramatic coastline surrounding Navagio offers excellent diving along the cliff walls, in underwater caves, and at nearby reef sites. Dive operators from Zakynthos Town access these sites by boat.

Open Water divers can enjoy the shallower reef areas at 10 to 18 metres. The underwater caves and deeper wall areas around the Navagio cliffs reach 35 metres and require Advanced Open Water certification. Some cave penetrations require cavern diving training. All dives are boat dives from Zakynthos Town, typically taking 30 to 45 minutes to reach the northwest coast.