Amphitheatre - Paphos & Coral Bay
The Amphitheatre, just off the coast near Paphos, is one of those sites that just feels… comfortable. It's a natural bowl in the seafloor, dropping from 5m down to about 18m, making it an absolute joy for newer divers or anyone looking for a relaxed second dive. We love the way the light filters down into the 'bowl', illuminating the rock formations. What you'll find here are plenty of nooks and crannies to peer into. We've often spotted octopuses peeking out from their dens, and you'll almost certainly come across a few groupers hanging out. Keep an eye on the sand too; we’ve had some great luck spotting Mediterranean tooth-footed snapping shrimp if you're patient enough to watch. The Shore Feather Duster Worms wave gently in the faint surge, and for the macro enthusiasts, Savigny’s brittle stars are usually tucked away under rocks. Visibility is generally good here, though it can get stirred up after strong westerly winds. Our favourite tip? Go early in the morning before the boat traffic picks up for the calmest surface conditions.
- Location
- Paphos & Coral Bay, Cyprus, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 34.810000, 32.390000
- Maximum Depth
- 5-18m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: MPA Mpania
Best Time to Dive in Paphos & Coral Bay
The warmest water temperatures in Paphos & Coral Bay occur in January, averaging 18.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 18.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 18.1°C (air: 13.4°C)
- February: 18.1°C (air: 13.2°C)
- March: 18.1°C (air: 14.6°C)
- April: 18.1°C (air: 18.4°C)
- May: 18.1°C (air: 21.9°C)
- June: 18.1°C (air: 25.4°C)
- July: 18.1°C (air: 28.8°C)
- August: 18.1°C (air: 28.3°C)
- September: 18.1°C (air: 26.5°C)
- October: 18.1°C (air: 23.0°C)
- November: 18.1°C (air: 18.7°C)
- December: 18.1°C (air: 15.2°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Paphos & Coral Bay
- ACCELO - 2m (wreck)
- ACHAIOS (POSSIBLY) - 3m (wreck)
- ACHILLEAS - 12m (wreck)
- ADHAM II - 6m (wreck)
- Agios Georgios Pegeia Beach - 12m
- Amphitheatre (reef)
- Church Bay (reef)
- CyDive (reef)
- DIMITRIOS II - 3m (wreck)
- EDRO III - 0m (wreck)
- FARSAS II - 21m (wreck)
- GREAT HARMONY - 7m (wreck)
- GYPTIS - 6m (wreck)
- KIBRIS I - 14m (wreck)
- Laboe (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Amphitheatre
- ABC Dive Ltd - ["PADI"]
- Abyss Dive Centre - ["PADI"]
- Amphibious Diving Center
- Amphora Scuba Diving Center - ["PADI"]
- Coral Bay Divers - ["PADI"]
- CREST DIVE LTD - PADI, RYA
Marine Life in Paphos & Coral Bay
Home to 44 recorded species including 26 reef fish, 9 sharks & rays, 3 other, 2 whales & dolphins, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 soft corals.
Notable Species
- Thornback skate (Raja clavata) - Sharks & Rays
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- marbled electric ray (Torpedo marmorata) - Sharks & Rays
- Brown Skate (Raja miraletus) - Sharks & Rays
- One-finned Shark (Heptranchias perlo) - Sharks & Rays
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
- Savigny's Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)
- Blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) - Sharks & Rays
- Gulper shark (Centrophorus granulosus) - Sharks & Rays
- Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- Velvet belly lantern shark (Etmopterus spinax) - Sharks & Rays
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Silver-cheeked Toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus) - Reef Fish
- Garrupa (Serranus cabrilla) - Reef Fish
- Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
- Redcoat (Sargocentron rubrum) - Reef Fish
- Three-tooth Cavoline (Cavolinia tridentata) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Jenny Lind (Seriola dumerili) - Reef Fish
- Pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) - Reef Fish
- red mullet (Mullus surmuletus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Amphitheatre
Based on average water temperature of 18.1°C.
- Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 18°C water
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories