A stunning underwater park, one of Europe’s most exciting new attractions for diving lovers, is set to open in Greece in 2025.
The diving park, already under construction, is located on the island of Crete, in Ombros-Gialos in the province of Chania. It will feature artificial reefs, developed in over 60,000 square meters, with 37 specially designed structures of artificial habitats and two sunken warships.
The park will offer visitors a magical underwater adventure, with diving depths between 8.5 to 25 meters. There will be three different diving routes for both beginners and advanced divers.
The artificial reefs, which are in a guarded area of the port of Souda since last year awaiting appropriate approvals, will be embedded underwater in order to improve the surrounding flora and the needs of the park. After the reefs, two decommissioned navy ships will also be moved in the area, creating some astounding conditions for diving tourism fans.
The first diving park in Greece, one of the best in Europe
The decision for the creation of the diving park in Crete was made in September 2024, by a number of Greek ministries, including the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of the Environment and Energy and the Ministry of Tourism. The park is expected to be ceompleted by the summer of 2025, ahead of Greece’s peak tourist season. So far, the project has cost close to half a million euros.
Charalambos Koukianakis, Mayor of Asprokoronas, where the park is located, said after the joint ministerial decision that that they had to overcome “bureaucratic obstacles” that had been “placed on the already licensed park of the Municipality of Asprokoronas.”
“We are very pleased to have succeeded and we are proud that we will implement the first diving park in Greece, stimulating the island’s alternative tourism and in particular, the very promising diving tourism,” Koukianakis said.
Greece is investing more in diving tourism
In August 2024, the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports set up a new body called “Dive in Greece,” which aims to turn the country into a global freediving destination. Freediving, meaning diving underwater on a single breath, depending only on your lungs until resurfacing, is a sport embraced by millions of people across the globe.
In a memorandum of understanding with the World Underwater Federation (CMAS), Greece has agreed to promote and organize freediving competitions and other freediving events in in the country, starting in 2025. Α seminar, along with an international apnea competition (voluntary breath-holding while keeping the face under the surface of the water) are scheduled to take place on the Greek island of Amorgos, where part of Luc Besson’s 1988 legendary movie, The Big Blue, was filmed. The film was based on the life of acclaimed freediver Jaques Mayol, who, along with his love for dolphins, made the sport known around the world.
Greece, a Mediterranean country surrounded by the sea, already has several freediving schools, with more popping up each year, and most offer official freediving certifications issued by international associations.
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