Diving in Ksamil
Why dive here
Ksamil offers some of Albania's richest diving, with 33+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins and sea turtles.
Ksamil. We love this little slice of Albania. It’s got that Ionian Sea sparkle, you know, the kind where the water just glows turquoise, especially with the Corfu Channel pushing in that clear stuff. Forget the crowded beaches sometimes, the real beauty here is just offshore. Our favourite dives are around the small islands, where the posidonia meadows shimmer in the sun. You’ll find White Seabream darting between the fronds, and we’ve spotted plenty of Painted Combers too, just chilling amongst the rocks. Visibility often stretches to 20 metres or more, making it a dream for spotting things like Scorpionfish hunkered down, or the occasional dusky grouper lurking in the deeper pockets. The wreck dives are mostly beginner-friendly, and you can spend a whole no-decompression limit exploring the nooks. Keep an eye out for European squid gliding past; they’re pretty common. Summer offers the warmest water, naturally, but we find the shoulder seasons, late spring or early autumn, bring slightly fewer boats and still offer excellent conditions. It’s never going to blow your mind with huge pelagics, but for a relaxed, pretty dive, Ksamil delivers.
Ksamil Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Ksamil
Ksamil Dive Sites
25 dive sites in Ksamil
A 110
The A 110 wreck off Ksamil sits at a modest 21 meters, making it an accessible dive for most certified divers. It’s a boat vessel, not dangerous, and fairly intact for its age. You’ll find schools of damselfish flitting around the hull, with the occasional octopus peering out from a crevice. It’s a solid choice if you're looking for a straightforward wreck dive in the area.
A 211
The A 211 in Ksamil is a boat wreck sitting upright on a sandy bottom at 27 metres. We’ve found schools of small fish often congregating around its decaying structure, darting in and out of the hold. It's a relatively intact vessel, good for a single dive, especially if you're keen on exploring a straightforward wreck without deep penetration. This site is a solid pick for divers looking to add a Mediterranean wreck to their logbook.
A 211 A 210
Steaming out from Ksamil, the A 211 A 210 wreck is one of our favourite dives in the area. Dropping down, the first thing you notice is how intact she is for a Mediterranean wreck at 27 metres. We love how her superstructure still stands proud, offering plenty of nooks and crannies to poke your head into. You can swim through the old wheelhouse, imagining the days she was above water. Look closely and you’ll find a surprising number of scorpionfish tucked into the shadows, their camouflage almost perfect against the rust. This isn’t a wreck for big pelagics, but for macro life and the sheer joy of exploring a well-preserved piece of history, it’s excellent. The visibility here can be superb, especially in the mornings, making the light play off the metal quite beautiful. We’d suggest bringing a good torch; it really brings out the colours of the sponges and small anemones clinging to the hull. It's a dive that rewards slow exploration, letting the character of the vessel unfold around you.
ALBANO
Ksamil’s Albano wreck is a real treat, especially for a shallower site. This old steamship, sunk by a mine in 1941, rests upright in about 15 metres of water. We love that you can really take your time exploring her 89-metre length. Descending, the sheer scale of the ship is the first thing that hits you – a proper wreck, not just scattered debris. You’ll spend most of your dive circling the superstructure, spotting the old davits and cargo holds. Schools of small fish dart in and out of the darker sections, and we often find moray eels peeking from crevices near the bow. Visibility here can sometimes be a bit moody, but even on a slightly greener day, the wreck’s outline is impressive. Our favourite part is the stern, where the prop shaft leads down to the rudder, now home to some vibrant anemones. It's an easy dive, perfect for newer wreck enthusiasts or anyone who wants a relaxed exploration without deep deco obligations.
ALBANO (POSSIBLY)
The Albano, or what we believe is the Albano, sits in the shallows off Ksamil, a genuine surprise for anyone expecting typical Mediterranean reefs. At just 14 metres, this isn't a deep dive, but the atmosphere here is heavy with history. She’s an old steamer, laid low by a mine back in 1941, and you can still trace the lines of her 89-metre hull quite clearly. We love finning along her deck, imagining the life she once held. The bow section is our favourite, where the anchor chain still drapes dramatically. Over the decades, she’s become a home for all sorts of critters. We often spot octopus tucked into crevices, their eyes watching us warily, and schools of small fish dart in and out of the cargo holds. The visibility here can be decent, especially in the mornings before boat traffic picks up, making the silhouette of the wreck really pop against the blue. It’s a site that suits divers who appreciate a good story and don’t need crushing depths to feel a connection to the underwater world. Go slow, poke around, and let the history wash over you.
ANTONIETTA COSTA
The Antonieta Costa is a proper piece of history, just off Ksamil. We love this wreck not because it’s a technicolour reef, but because it feels like diving a time capsule. She was a steamship, sunk in 1940, and sits upright in about 9 metres of water. That shallow depth means heaps of ambient light filters down, even on a cloudy day, picking out the skeletal remains of her superstructure. You’ll find schools of small fish, mostly damselfish and juvenile bream, darting in and out of the broken hull plates. The bow is a favourite spot for a few resident moray eels, peeking out from behind rust-encrusted metal. We always spend a good chunk of time exploring the stern, where the prop shaft housing is still visible, encrusted with sponges and some surprising clumps of soft coral. It’s a gentle dive, perfect for newer wreck divers or anyone who appreciates the quieter beauty of a historical site. The visibility here is usually pretty good, often 15 metres plus, and there’s rarely any significant current. Our tip? Go early in the morning before any wind picks up, the water is glassy and the light is just stunning.
BREGENZ (POSSIBLY)
The *Bregenz*, or what we strongly suspect is the *Bregenz*, is a fantastic shallow wreck just off Ksamil. Dropping onto it, you’re met with a surprisingly intact steamship, resting upright in only eight metres of water. We love how the light filters through the clear Mediterranean, illuminating the ship’s structure, which is now heavily encrusted with sponges and soft corals. You can easily spend an entire dive exploring the deck and peering into the open holds where schools of damselfish dart in and out. It’s a photographer’s dream, especially on a sunny morning before the boat traffic picks up, with the sunbursts creating incredible silhouettes against the hull. This site is perfect for newer wreck divers or anyone who just wants an easy, engaging dive with a strong sense of history.
CITTA DI SAVONA
The Citta di Savona is easily our favourite wreck in Albania, and for good reason. She’s a dangerous wreck, yes, but that’s part of the draw – it means she’s mostly intact and feels like stepping into a time capsule. We found her lying perfectly upright in 23 metres of water, almost as if she’d just settled down for a long nap. The visibility around Ksamil can be excellent, and on a good day, you can see her from the surface, a dark shadow on the sandy bottom. What really gets us about the Citta di Savona is the way the light filters through the remaining deck plates and into the cargo holds. You can peer into these cavernous spaces, imagining the supplies she once carried. Look closely, and you’ll see schooling damselfish darting in and out of the rusted metal, while the occasional moray eel peeks from a shadowy corner. It’s a site for those who appreciate history and the quiet drama of a ship reclaimed by the sea. We’d suggest a late morning dive here, after any early boat traffic has settled, to really soak in the atmosphere.
Cold Water
Cold Water, just off Ksamil, is an easy entry point for newer divers. The site bottoms out at 13 metres, providing a good spot to get comfortable with your buoyancy. You'll find a mix of rocky seafloor and sand patches, often with small groups of bream and wrasse flitting between the rocks. It’s a decent option for a relaxed dive or a refresher.
Drymades Beach - MIG-21 wreck
Alright, let’s talk about that MIG-21 off Drymades Beach. For a beginner-friendly wreck at just 15 metres, this site really delivers. We love it because it’s surprisingly intact and offers a genuine sense of history. You’ll find the jet sitting upright on a sandy bottom, looking like it just splashed down. The cockpit is still there, eerily open, and the wings are mostly intact, making for some fantastic swim-through opportunities – perfectly sized for a single diver, no squeezing required. This isn’t a busy coral reef, but the MIG has become an artificial reef in its own right. Schools of damselfish shimmer around the fuselage, and we’ve spotted moray eels peeking out from under the wings more times than we can count. Our favourite detail is the way the Mediterranean light filters through the plane’s skeleton, highlighting the growth of sponges and anemones that have started to claim it. It's a fantastic place to practice wreck diving skills without any real current to contend with. If you’re just getting into wrecks, or want a relaxed dive with a unique story, this is a top pick.
FOFO
The FOFO wreck in Ksamil offers a different kind of dive. This isn't a deep reef teeming with colour, but an exploration of history. Sunk in 1978 after a run-in with a Belgian yacht, the fishing vessel now rests at 53 metres. We usually find schools of small fish hovering over the deck, and sometimes a curious octopus peeking from what used to be the engine room. It’s a good deep dive for those comfortable with the depth, keen on wreck penetration, and ready to appreciate the quiet life that takes over these forgotten vessels.
HELICON
The Helicon wreck, sitting upright at a comfortable 30 metres, is our favourite dive in Ksamil. This isn't just a sunken ship; it's a window into a moment, scuttled by the Germans in 1943. We love exploring the open cargo holds, imagining the supplies it once carried. The light filters down, illuminating schools of small fish that dart between the rusting beams. You’ll spot nudibranchs clinging to the hull and the occasional octopus peeking out from a dark corner. The visibility here is often superb, letting you appreciate the scale of the vessel as you approach. We'd suggest aiming for a morning dive before any strong afternoon breezes stir things up. It’s a site that really rewards a slow, methodical exploration. Take your time, peer into every nook, and you’ll find that the Helicon gives up more secrets with each visit. It’s a cracker for wreck enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates a bit of history with their dive.
Ksamil Dive Centres
10 dive shops and operators in Ksamil
ACHILLEON DIVING CENTER
AMFORA
APOLLO DIVING RESORT
Captain Hook
CORFU DIVING FUN CLUB
Dive Easy
Hercules Marine Activities
POSEIDON DIVING CENTER
Ocean Wildlife in Ksamil
33 species recorded in Ksamil
Ksamil Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Ksamil, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
05:02
Sunset
18:28
Daylight
13h 27m
Golden Hour
17:52
First light (dawn) at 04:33 · Last light (dusk) at 18:57
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 07:04 | 16:39 | 9h 36m |
| Feb | 06:37 | 17:17 | 10h 40m |
| Mar | 05:55 | 17:48 | 11h 54m |
| Apr | 05:06 | 18:19 | 13h 13m |
| May | 04:27 | 18:50 | 14h 23m |
| JunLongest | 04:12 | 19:14 | 15h 2m |
| Jul | 04:24 | 19:13 | 14h 49m |
| AugNow | 04:52 | 18:43 | 13h 51m |
| Sep | 05:22 | 17:55 | 12h 33m |
| Oct | 05:52 | 17:05 | 11h 13m |
| Nov | 06:28 | 16:26 | 9h 57m |
| DecShortest | 06:58 | 16:17 | 9h 18m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Ksamil.
Where to Stay near Ksamil
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Marine Protected Areas near Ksamil
12 protected areas near Ksamil - please respect local regulations when diving
Liqeni i Shkodres
Managed Nature Reserve (Albanian part) of Shkodra lake / Rezerva Natyrore e Menaxhuar e Liqenit te Shkodres (pjesa shqiptare)
Karaburun-Sazan Marine National Park
Karaburun-Sazan Marine National Park
Butrinti
Patok-Fushekuqe-Ishem
Butrint
Butrinti National Park (Parku Kombetar i Butrintit)
Kune-Vain-Tale
2-Ishujt e Ksamilit
Ishulli i Cabakut
Kanali i Vivarit
Getting to Ksamil
Vlorë
Kerkyra (Corfu)
Rinas
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