Southern Crete Shore Dives: Eight Days and 16 Dives in Plakias

Scuba · Myrthianos Plakias

Eight Days of Fun Diving • 16 Dives (Eight Day)

Spend full days exploring Crete’s clear-water gorges and dramatic drop offs with small groups and expert guides. This eight-hour, two-dive format delivers repeatable sites, excellent visibility and a relaxed beachside lunch at local tavernas.

View experience
Duration8 hours
LocationMyrthianos Plakias, Massachusetts
OperatorDive2gether Crete
Price shownCheck dates

Adventure brief

Eight Days of Fun Diving • 16 Dives (Eight Day)

Spend full days exploring Crete’s clear-water gorges and dramatic drop offs with small groups and expert guides. This eight-hour, two-dive format delivers repeatable sites, excellent visibility and a relaxed beachside lunch at local tavernas.

On the southern shore of Crete near the village of Myrthianos Plakias, Eight Days of Fun Diving • 16 Dives (Eight Day) run by Dive2gether Crete offers daily shore dives that expose limestone gorges, rocky drop offs and crystal clear water. Across an eight hour day small groups of up to six divers explore underwater canyons and steep walls where visibility reaches about thirty meters and marine life concentrates in cracks and ledges. The day begins at the Dive2gether Crete meeting point in Myrthianos Plakias.

Guests are greeted with water and orangeade while staff fit equipment and deliver a clear safety briefing. Transport to the beach is available or you can drive and use free parking; each dive is typically forty five to sixty minutes with time ashore for a relaxed lunch at a beach taverna. Air and weights are included; full equipment rental, guide photos and boat dive upgrades are offered as extras.

What makes these dives distinctive is the sharp Cretan limestone topography: narrow gorges, swim throughs, and sudden drop offs that create dramatic light and current effects. That rock structure plus calm seas often produces excellent visibility, ideal for spotting octopus, wrasse and groupers, as well as brooms of small schooling fish. The sites are compact enough to repeat within a day, which benefits photographers and divers working on skills.

This is a good trip for certified recreational divers aged ten and up who are comfortable with moderate surface swimming and basic buoyancy work. The small group size keeps briefings personable and allows guides to tailor plans to conditions, a key advantage on a coast where wind and swell can change quickly. If conditions permit, the dive centre can upgrade some dives from shore to boat for a different profile.

Crete has a centuries long maritime tradition and the Plakias coast still supports local fisheries and family run tavernas, making post dive meals a cultural highlight. The operator follows low impact practices like gentle entry techniques and mooring discipline to protect seagrass and reef life. Whether you want clear water photography, varied dive topography or calm guided dives, this full day program is a focused way to experience southern Crete beneath the waves.

Booking is straightforward through the operator's FareHarbor page or at the dive centre; group sizes are deliberately limited to preserve quality and safety. Guides speak English and local languages, and they often point out geological features and small critters that casual swimmers miss. Weather windows are monitored daily and dive plans shift to optimize conditions.

If you are working on a specialty course or a certification refresh, discuss options in advance so the centre can reserve appropriate sites and equipment availability.

Adventure tips

Plan your experience.

Curated tips for an optimal adventure.

  1. 01
    Bring your certification card

    You must show your scuba certification and logbook at check in; digital copies are accepted if printed copies are unavailable.

    essential
  2. 02
    Surface interval at the taverna

    Use the lunch break to hydrate and eat a light meal; avoid heavy alcohol until the day is finished.

    warning
  3. 03
    Protect your kit from sun

    Store masks and electronics in shade between dives and rinse regulators immediately after the second dive.

    info
  4. 04
    Check local wind forecasts

    Sea conditions can change; plan flexible travel and follow the guide’s plan for sheltered sites if wind picks up.

    essential
DifficultyModerate
Duration8 hours
FitnessBe in good general health with ability to swim short distances and manage basic dive tasks; moderate cardiovascular fitness and core stability help with buoyancy.
Technical skillsScuba certification (Open Water or equivalent), Basic buoyancy control, None additional beyond certification

Recommended gear

What to bring.

01

Certification card & logbook

Required for check in and helps guides place divers by experience.

Essential
02

Wetsuit (3–5mm)

Keeps you warm in cooler months and protects against scrapes on rocky entries.

springEssential
03

Mask, snorkel and fins

Personal fit improves comfort and underwater vision during repeated dives.

summerEssential
04

Dive computer

Tracks no decompression limits and surface intervals for a two-dive day.

Essential

Local insights

Context for the journey.

Hidden gems

Nearby secrets

A shallow reef garden on the headland that is great for macro photography, Small pebble coves near the main bay that offer calm entry points and quiet shorelines

Wildlife

Local fauna

Octopus, Groupers

History

Historic heritage

Crete’s southern coast has a long maritime history tied to fishing and small-scale coastal trade; local tavernas remain family run and linked to that past.

Conservation

Mindful exploration

Operators emphasize low impact practices such as careful mooring, gentle entry techniques and educating divers to avoid seagrass damage and protect reef life.

Photography tips

Capture the moments

Viewpoints
Along the drop off edge to capture depth and light, Inside the narrow gorges and swim throughs for dramatic compositions, Shallow ledges for macro subjects and small schooling fish
Subjects
Underwater rock formations, Macro life like octopus and nudibranchs, Diver portraits against blue water
Best times
Morning dives for calmer water, Midday for best visibility, Late afternoon for warm shore light

Frequently asked questions

Before you go.

Do I need my own equipment?

No — air and weights are included and full equipment rental is available; bring personal mask and fins if you prefer.

What is the minimum age?

Minimum age is 10 years old and divers must hold an appropriate certification for depth and site conditions.

How long are the dives?

Typical bottom times run forty five to sixty minutes depending on air consumption and site conditions.

Is lunch included?

Lunch at the beach taverna is not included; guides recommend bringing local cash or card for meals.

Can I switch to boat dives?

Yes — upgrades to boat dives are possible in person, subject to availability and sea conditions.

What if the weather is bad?

The centre monitors conditions daily and will alter dive plans or reschedule to keep safety the priority.

Dive2gether Crete

Southern Crete Shore Dives: Eight Days and 16 Dives in Plakias