The first diving park complete with shipwrecks and 38 artificial reefs to operate on the island of Crete, was given the green light by the region’s Environment and Spatial Planning Committee. Under the supervision of the Apokoronas Municipality, Chania, the marine park is set to operate in the coastal area of Ormos Bros Gialos Bay, outside the protected Natura 2000 area.
The 15-acre park, designed to accommodate large groups or individual divers on three 20-meter-deep routes, will operate services from the ports of Georgioupoli, Almirida, Kalives, Marathi and Bros Gialos.
For the secure operation of the diving park, scuba diving surface floating points and boats will be used while separate diving areas and routes will be charted so that the Park can simultaneously accommodate as many groups of visitors as possible
The first route is 370 meters long and 20 meters deep, exploring the first wreck as well as a group of five reefs.
The second route is 350 meters long and 20 meters deep, exploring the second wreck as well as a group of 8 reefs.
The third route 250 meters long and 20 meters deep exploring a group of 8 reefs.
The Diving Park service will be based on the ports of Georgioupoli, Almirida, Kalives Marathi and Bros Gialos.
According to Crete MEP Nikos Igoumenidis, the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment is scheduled to be signed by relevant authorities, paving the way for other such parks across the island and Greece, which will boost diving tourism while ensuring safety and sustainable practices.
Igoumenidis, added that “the development and promotion of diving tourism is part of the ministry’s ongoing national tourism strategy, aiming to tackle the seasonality of the sector and to enrich and diversify the tourist product by tapping into Greece’s natural offerings”.
Island authorities also have plans to create diving parks in Stalida, Mononafti, and Mirabello Bay. gtp & others
