Green Bay

Protaras · Protaras · Cyprus

Green Bay in Protaras is proof that exceptional diving does not require exceptional depth. This sheltered east-facing bay on Cyprus's southeastern coast maxes out at around 12 metres, has virtually no current, and can be entered by walking off a concrete platform. Yet it delivers a dive experience that is genuinely engaging and beloved by everyone from first-time divers to experienced Mediterranean specialists. I stepped off the entry platform into clear, warm water and descended to 5 metres over a sandy bottom dotted with Posidonia seagrass patches. The first markers of the underwater trail appeared quickly: replica amphora arranged in clusters, their terracotta surfaces fuzzy with algae and providing shelter for juvenile fish. Further along, a sculpture figure sat on the sand, its features softened by marine growth, sea urchins clustered at its base. The natural reef is a series of low rocky outcrops and ledges running parallel to shore, creating overhangs and crevices hosting an impressive resident population. I found five Mediterranean moray eels on a single dive. Octopus were everywhere, their intelligence on full display as they watched me from den entrances marked by piles of discarded shells. Cuttlefish hung motionless above sandy patches, skin flickering with chromatic waves when approached. The rocky reef supports dense communities of Mediterranean species. Ornate wrasse in vivid green and orange liveries cleaned other fish at established stations. Damselfish defended tiny territories with absurd aggression. Sea bream cruised in loose schools over the reef tops. Green Bay at night is another site entirely. Octopus emerge to hunt, moray eels leave their holes to forage, sleeping parrotfish can be found in mucus cocoons, and shrimp and crabs carpet the rocky surfaces with eyes reflecting red in the beam. The site's shallow depth allows 70 to 90 minute bottom times on a single tank. The combination of accessible conditions, diverse marine life, and the unique sculpture trail creates a site that punches well above what its modest depth profile might suggest.