With many serene beaches, hidden coves, and magnificent mountain scenery, the island of Corfu is among the most famous holiday destinations in Greece. It is the biggest Island of the Ionian Islands and is circumscribed by various smaller islands. Hence, there is plenty to explore on land and under the water. Corfu is an extensively popular destination among scuba divers, specifically on its northern side. There are wonderful diving sites throughout its coastline, including the Kassiopi Reef, House Reef, Odyssey, & others. Besides, the sea life in Corfu has underwater caves, wall dives, shallow limestone reefs, and more. You must not skip this Greek island with breathtaking diving spots on your adventure list.
Best Time for Diving in Corfu
Diving in Corfu is enjoyed at its best in the summer season. This island has a mild Mediterranean climate, and the appropriate months for diving activity are from May to September. The average maximum day temperature in this period ranges between 24°C (75°F) - 31°C ( 87°F). In these summer months, the visibility in the seas is amazing (approximately 15m /50ft). These conditions allow newbie divers to elevate their diving skills and gain good experience. Remarkably, most diving schools run diving excursions for tourists from the beginning of May until October. As diving is a popular watersport in Corfu, you should always book in advance to ensure you do not miss the chance.
13 Spectacular Diving Spots in Corfu
1. Colovri
Colovri is a striking island in Corfu that sprawls over a 2,000 sq m area and embraces cliffs, canyons, crevices, reefs, & a wonderful maze of boulders. It is the most famous spot for diving in Corfu, and it seems like this spot exists purely for the diving sport. Colovri has reasonably warm waters and a splendid visibility of up to 30 m. Also, wildlife is abundant on this island. It is well-known for Barracuda, Shrimps, Anthia, Moray Eels, and other species of fish & aquatic critters. On swimming to the edge of the reef, you will discover a steep fall that goes down into the cavern. The maximum dive goes up to 40 m at this location. However, if you are a beginner, there is a great deal to experience & observe near the surface. This diving spot is a really astonishing and must-visit for divers in Corfu.
2. Paleokastritsa
Paleokastritsa is perhaps the most magnificent and renowned area for diving on this Greek island. It is a spectacular village lying on the northwest coast of Corfu. This spot features awe-inspiring caverns, caves, wonderful shipwrecks, walls, and reefs. The divers can spot jacks, moray eels, barracudas, groupers, common dentex, crayfish, octopus, nudibranch, sea bream, cuttlefish, squid, and many other species of fish and invertebrates here. The water temperature at this diving site varies between 17°C to 25°C, as per the direction of the wind. Besides, the water here is crystal clear and has a visibility of up to 30 meters. With all these features, Paleokastritsa offers an exclusive diving experience.
3. Odyssey
A notable salty water diving site, the Odyssey is a shoreside rocky island in Corfu. It is ranked in the top 1000 diving spots across the globe by the international press. Notably, there are fabulous sponge-covered spots for macro underwater photography. You can dive into the humongous vertical walls around the Odyssey, which goes to a depth of 120 m. Near the anchor, a large abyss breaks through the rock island. It opens to the underwater Gateway to Depth which lets you explore the three reefs offshore. It starts from the Dr. Max Hahn reef, which has a 60 m depth. There is a cave at 40 m depth spanning through the entire reef and lets the divers exit on the opposite side at 35 m depth. The Southern Cross has around 50 m depth. Then, you will reach the second reef, which is a broad reef plateau having its top at 25 m, and on the seashore, it goes down to 60 m. The third one is the mythical Odyssey reef. It has its top at 10 m depth, and on the seaside, it features a vertical drop of up to 120 m. The underwater landscape views of the depth are astonishing. Odyssey is specifically a spot for expert divers, though the terraced structure on one side makes it suitable for intermediate-level divers too.
4. Paxos
Only a short boat ride from Corfu town, Paxos is a small island set afar from the infuriating crowds. Many diving companies based out of Corfu offer excursions to this island. There are a few brilliant diving spots at Paxos that are well-known for their calm and extremely clear waters. One of these spots is Blue Grotes, also known as Blue Grotto or Blue Caves. It has beautiful scenery & excellent visibility of waters with at least 25 m depth. This spot is appropriate for well-practised divers who are comfortable in this depth. Another gem for underwater thrill is the Angelos Cave. The underwater area at this spot is so vast that you cannot delve into all of it in a couple of dives. There is an approximate depth of 30m, and the water does not observe many currents. Still, this apt is recommended for experienced divers only. Here, everything looks so magnificent that you would want to stay there for a long. Besides the glowing deep-blue cave, you will see monk seals and other aquatic critters under the water.
5. The Caves
The Caves is another beautiful diving location in Corfu that embraces two caves. One of these two caves is an ideal spot for experienced divers and has a maximum depth of around 23 m. The other cave is a suitable spot for non-divers or beginners to explore the waters from the surface. When you dive in, you will find an underwater tunnel extended up to 20 m in length during your Seaworld exploration. The swim-through tunnel lets you reach these huge caves. This cave is indeed a wonderland for those who are certified, advanced-level cave divers. Also, the water has splendid visibility here, so you should visit this dive site once.
6. Monastery
For all the budding biologists, underwater photographers, & divers, the Monastery is a marvellous location, just 100 m off the coast of Corfu. It has a maximum of 22 m of depth and visibility of around 20 m. Both these conditions make it a great spot for scuba divers of all levels, especially for those keen to observe marine life. Here, you will find a sweeping variety of marine life, like octopuses, crayfishes, shrimps, blue combers, and other aquatic critters, swimming freely. Remarkably, the Monastery is a dive site for its bright colours and caves. The entrance of one of the best & open-roofed caves for diving is 3m below the surface. On diving, a bit deeper, around 22 m under the surface, comes the second cave, full of colours and sea life. This cave has a 25 m maximum depth & outstanding visibility.
7. Othonoi Island
We have explored several options for reefs, caverns, and some for marine life enthusiasts too, but if you like diving around shipwrecks, you should visit Othonoi Island. It is a small rocky island set near Corfu town that has a distinct & rugged seabed. This spot features two shipwrecks to explore and some famous caverns that attract scuba divers. Some notable diving centers offer an amazing day excursion to this spot. You have to go to the North of Othoni Island at Fyki Bay. Here, you can dive into the two shipwrecks. First is the wreck of the SS Sara at 32 m depth, an Italian steamship that sank in 1925. The second one is the immersed ruins of Theodoros at a 15 m depth. The sparkling blue water offering superb visibility amplifies this tremendous site.
8. Hole of Ha
Hole of Ha is a majestic dive site that makes Corfu a top-notch cavern diving destination worldwide. It is an easy cavern diving spot, where the cavern goes inside a mountain. This cavern has no roof, so you can see the world outside by looking up, specifically at the trees circumscribing this hole in the mountain. The sun shining into the open surface creates a beautiful technicolour miracle as the light hits and streams through the water. A chamber is nestled below the surface at a 25 m depth. You can initiate your dive by entering a narrow passageway at 18 m that extends to a rugged area, with light coming from above. You will observe stalactites and fossilized conch shells here. The Hole of Ha is considered the global standard for cavern diving. Hence, this dive spot should surely be on your list for a Corfu diving trip.
9. Neptune's Cave
Neptune's cave is another lovely cavern diving spot featuring a separate entry and exit. Notably, this spot embraces multiple narrow channels, two domes, and splendid stalactites and stalagmites. Around 18 m below the surface, you will spot the entrance to this cave, whereas the exit is at 13 m depth. Divers can enter this cave from any of these two openings. There is a decent natural light in this cave, and you will see different fish species dwelling, such as the lobsters, groupers, moray eel, trumpet fish, yellowfin tuna, bream, porcupine fish, shrimps, and sometimes a stingray too. You will have a delightful diving experience in this amazing cave with excellent visibility and a variety of marine flora and fauna. Suitable to divers of different levels, this is a highly recommended spot. However, divers should be careful of the currents, which are a bit strong in this area.
10. Barbaro Caves
The Barbaro Caves are a shallow water location close to the Corfu channel. Despite being in shallow waters, these caves are still awesome. You will find a total of ten caves (four large & six smaller caves) alongside the swim-throughs with a maximum depth of 7 m. Notably, at least two dives will be required to explore them. These caves are covered with red coral, red & yellow zoanthids, and red algae. Also, these cave walls are the habitat of Christmas tree worms and other sessile critters, starfishes, shrimps in fluorescent hues, crabs, and a plethora of nudibranchs. This dive spot is very famous, and there is limited space. Moreover, divers can explore these caves only at certain times because of the currents.
11. House Reef
House Reef is a colourful diving location that matches the vivid colours of marine life. This reef is guarded against strong currents. Therefore, it is a suitable dive site for different levels of self-assured divers. If you are not very convinced with your diving skills, then you can explore between 2m to 20 m, as there are remarkable things to see. On the contrary, if you are an advanced-level diver, you can dive deeper at this spot, deep down beyond the second plateau. It is covered with various species of imposing soft coral and bulging with reef creatures. This is a favourite spot for observing barracudas and various fishes, featuring a lot of small holes at discrete depths.
12. Kassiopi Reef
Kassiopi Reef is a perfect diving & underwater photography spot for divers of all levels. Kassiopi is a calm & pleasing fishing village that does not observe heavy crowds. Therefore, diving at this site is a splendid experience, and it offers plenty of space and privacy for visitors to enjoy diving & snorkelling. Notably, it features rocky formations whose sides are covered with delicate red corals & red stone weeds. Here, you will find some of the best diving spots on Corfu island due to the beautiful reefs and underwater caves that are a spectacular sight for a passionate diver. The shallow waters have a warm temperature and facilitate the divers in closely observing the marine life of the Ionian Sea.
13. Nissaki Wall
One of the breathtaking sites for diving in Corfu, the Nissaki Wall is a perfect spot for underwater photographers. It starts with a plateau area having a depth of around 5 m, and then the wall observes an unexpected fall to a place embracing a small wreck at a depth of 32 m. Then, there is again a drop up to 38 meters deep, where an accumulation of round boulders creates a retreat for large lobsters and groupers. While exploring this wall further, you will observe small to medium-sized holes that are brimming with vividly coloured cardinal fish, shrimps, purple sea urchins, bearded fireworms, zoanthids, and red & yellow sponges. Also, you can spot a cuttlefish in the sandy flat area. Besides, throughout the wall, you can see octopuses peeping out from their dens. As a special delight for the tech divers, there is a pair of WWII aircraft lying to the south along the wall, partially buried in the sand. Moreover, about 200 m away to the east, there is an 80 m long ferry boat wreck at depths between 42 m to 48 m. Conclusively, there is a plethora of things to see, regardless of your experience level.
Diving Centres & Schools in Corfu
Corfu is well-known for diving along with its varied scuba diving centres & schools that are scattered all over this Greek island. These diving centres are set at popular diving locations in Corfu. They offer diving courses with certifications and boat trips to magnificent diving spots. The largest scuba diver training association around the globe is the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Notably, it offers its Open Water Diver course at multiple dive centres across Corfu. Usually, the courses require 4 to 7 days for completion, as per the weather and other conditions. So, you can easily opt for these while on your summer holiday in Corfu. There is training in small groups and individually by a certified Instructor.
The Dive spots are decided as per the weather and the diver's skill level. Also, if you are already a certified expert diver, you can rent the necessary equipment from these centres to dive independently. Besides, if you also have your own equipment, it is advisable to bring a 3/5 mm wetsuit with you in the summer. Contrastingly, a 5/7 mm wetsuit or semi-dry suit is apt for the winters.
The sparkling blue seas around Corfu island offer much more than the chance for peaceful consideration. It has magnificent prospects for watersports, especially scuba diving. Both divers and snorkelers will find many locations to explore as they take an excursion off the coast. With plenty of marine life, coral-encrusted walls, caves & opening rocks, shipwrecks, and various reef diving spots brimming with Mediterranean reef critters, Corfu entices everyone, from a beginner to the most passionate divers from the world, to explore these diving locations. So, if you plan to embark on a diving trip to Greece, you should definitely visit Corfu!