ATHINA PALILOAS
Protected Area
NISIDES SARONIKOU KOLPOU KAI THALASSIA PERIOCHI
Why dive here
ATHINA PALILOAS is a wreck dive where divers can encounter dolphins and sea turtles. Water ranges 15-26°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Athina Paliloas offers a proper shipwreck dive, even at its shallow eight-meter depth. We love this site for its accessibility and the sheer volume of history you can absorb without needing deep diving certification. What you’ll find here is the bow section of a much larger cargo ship, remarkably intact and lying on its side. Swimming along its length, you can peer into what used to be cargo holds, now home to clouds of small damselfish. Look for the large groupers that often lurk in the shadows, particularly towards the deeper edges of the wreck. It’s a photographer’s dream on a sunny day, with light filtering through the clear Aegean water, illuminating the rust-coloured metal and the vibrant sponge growth. The Athina Paliloas is a standout for anyone keen to explore a piece of maritime history, especially if you’re newer to wreck diving or just want a relaxed, rewarding second dive.
Typical ATHINA PALILOAS Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
ATHINA PALILOAS Wreck History
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding
Resting in the crystalline waters of the Alonissos Marine Park, the ATHINA PALILOAS is a colossal modern freighter that met its end after running aground. At an incredible 190 meters long, this wreck is a giant playground for divers, made even more remarkable by its exceptionally shallow depth. The top of the wreck sits at just 8 meters, with parts of its superstructure breaking the surface on calm days, making it an accessible and awe-inspiring sight for divers of all certification levels.
Exploring the ATHINA PALILOAS offers a surreal contrast between a massive, contemporary steel structure and the ancient, protected marine environment that surrounds it. Divers can swim along its vast hull, peer into cargo holds, and navigate around the bridge and deck machinery, which have become a habitat for schools of fish and other Mediterranean marine life. Its sheer size and easy accessibility make it a standout dive in a region more famous for its ancient amphorae wrecks.
Nearest Dive Centres to ATHINA PALILOAS
Dive shops near ATHINA PALILOAS
Seals
Balco sub
Seals
Halkeas
Fantasea
WATER ACTIONS & TECHNICAL RESCUE
Reviews for ATHINA PALILOAS
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for ATHINA PALILOAS
ATHINA PALILOAS Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for ATHINA PALILOAS, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (38.09, 24.15) (15km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
23°C
73°F · Range: 21–25.6°C
Current Speed
1.41 cm/s
Direction: SW (225°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.13 mg/m³
Clear water
Salinity
34.63 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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