Diving in Dodecanese

Explore 52 dive sites in Dodecanese, Greece. Ocean conditions, marine species, and dive centres.

Best Time to Dive in Dodecanese

The warmest water temperatures in Dodecanese occur in August, averaging 28.7°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 17.0°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 18.6°C
  • February: 17.4°C
  • March: 17.0°C
  • April: 17.8°C
  • May: 20.3°C
  • June: 23.2°C
  • July: 26.5°C
  • August: 28.7°C
  • September: 27.7°C
  • October: 25.5°C
  • November: 23.5°C
  • December: 21.1°C

Marine Life in Dodecanese

Home to 26 recorded species including 8 reef fish, 4 whales & dolphins, 3 other, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 hard corals.

Recommended Packing List for Dodecanese

Based on average water temperature of 22.3°C, currents 8 cm/s.

  • Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 22°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

Marine Protected Areas in Dodecanese

  • Kremastis - Paradeisiou Dimou Petaloudon Nisou Rodou - Wildlife Refugee (IUCN Category IV)
  • Ygrotopos kai akti Psalidiou Dimou Ko - Nature reserve area (IUCN Category II)
  • SAMOS: PARALIA ALYKI - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • SAMOS: OROS KERKETEFS - MIKRO KAI MEGALO SEITANI - DASOS KASTANIAS KAI LEKKAS, AKR. KATAVASIS - LIMENAS - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • IKARIA - FOURNOI KAI PARAKTIA ZONI - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • KASOS KAI KASONISIA – EVRYTERI THALASSIA PERIOCHI - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • KASTELLORIZO KAI NISIDES RO KAI STRONGYLI KAI PARAKTIA THALASSIA ZONI - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • RODOS: AKRAMYTIS, ARMENISTIS, ATTAVYROS, REMATA KAI THALASSIA ZONI (KARAVOLA-ORMOS GLYFADA) - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • NOTIA NISYROS KAI STRONGYLI, IFAISTIAKO PEDIO KAI PARAKTIA THALASSIA ZONI - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • KOS: AKROTIRIO LOUROS - LIMNI PSALIDI - OROS DIKAIOS - ALYKI - PARAKTIA THALASSIA ZONI - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • ASTYPALAIA: ANATOLIKO TMIMA, GYRO NISIDES KAI OFIDOUSSA KAI THALASSIA ZONI (AKR. LANTRA - AKR. VRYSI) - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • ARKOI, LEIPSOI, AGATHONISI KAI VRACHONISIDES - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • VRACHONISIA NOTIOU AIGAIOU: VELOPOULA, FALKONERA, ANANES, CHRISTIANA, PACHEIA, FTENO, MAKRA, ASTAKIDONISIA, SYRNA - GYRO NISIA KAI THALASSIA ZONI - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • ANAFI: CHERSONISOS KALAMOS - ROUKOUNAS - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • SANTORINI: NEA KAI PALIA KAMENI - PROFITIS ILIAS - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • VOREIA AMORGOS KAI KINAROS, LEVITHA, MAVRA, GLAROS KAI THALASSIA ZONI - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • MIKRES KYKLADES: IRAKLEIA, SCHOINOUSSA, KOUFONISIA, KEROS, ANTIKERIA KAI THALASSIA ZONI - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • KENTRIKI KAI NOTIA NAXOS: ZAS KAI VIGLA EOS MAVROVOUNI KAI THALASSIA ZONI (ORMOS KARADES - ORMOS MOUTSOUNAS) - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • VOREIOANATOLIKO AKRO KRITIS: DIONYSADES, ELASA KAI CHERSONISOS SIDERO (AKRA MAVRO MOURI – VAI – AKRA PLAKAS) KAI THALASSIA ZONI - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • NISOS FOURNOI KAI NISIDES THYMAINA ALATONISI, THYMAINAKI, STRONGYLO, PLAKA, MAKRONISI, MIKROS KAI MEGALOS ANTHROPOFAGOS, AGIOS MINAS KAI THALASSIA PERIOCHI - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • NISIDES KALYMNOU: EPANO NERA, SARI, TELENDOS KAI THALASSIA PERIOCHI - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • NISOI KINAROS KAI LEVITHA KAI NISIDES LIADIA, PLAKA, GLAROS, MAVRA KAI THALASSIA PERIOCHI - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • ANATOLIKO TMIMA ASTYPALEAS KAI NISIDES KOUNOUPI, FTENO, CHONDROPOULO, KOYTSOMYTIS, MONI, AGIA KYRIAKI, TIGANI, CHONDRI, LIGNO, FOKIONISIA, KATSAGRELI, PONTIKOYSSA, FIDOYSSA, KTENIA KAI THALASSIA PERIO - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • NISOS TILOS KAI NISIDES: ANTITILOS, PELEKOUSA, GAIDOURONISI, GIAKOUMIS, AGIOS ANDREAS, PRASOUDA , NISI KAI THALASSIA PERIOCHI - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • ANATOLIKO TMIMA NISOU SYMIS KAI NISIDES KOULOUNDROS SESKLI, TROUMPETO, MARMARAS, KARAVALONISI, MEGALONISI, GIALESINO, OXEIA, CHONDROS, PLATY, NIMOS KAI THALASSIA PERIOCHI NISOU SYMIS - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • NISOS CHALKI KAI NISIDES: KOLOFONA, PANO PRASSOUDA, TRAGOUSA, STRONGYLI, AGIOS THEODOROS, MAELONISI ALIMIA, KREVVATI, NISAKI, MAKRY KAI THALASSIA PERIOCHI - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • NISOS KASOS KAI SYMPLEGMA KASONISION KAI THALASSIA PERIOCHI - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • MIKRES KYKLADES, VOREIOANATOLIKI AMORGOS, ANATOLIKES AKTES DONOUSAS, GYRO NISIDES KAI THALASSIA PERIOCHI - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • ANAFI, ANATOLIKO KAI VOREIO TMIMA KAI GYRO NISIDES KAI THALASSIA PERIOCHI - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • DIONYSADES NISOI KAI THALASSIA ZONI - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • VOREIA KARPATHOS KAI SARIA KAI PARAKTIA THALASSIA ZONI - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • THALASSIA PERIOCHI NOTIAS PATMOU - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • NISIDES VOREION DODEKANISON KAI THALASSIA PERIOCHI - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • PARAKTIA KAI THALASSIA ZONI VOREIAS ANAFIS - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • THALASSIA PERIOCHI KOLOUMVO - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • VOREIA KARPATHOS KAI SARIA KAI PARAKTIA THALASSIA ZONI - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)

Getting to Dodecanese - Nearest Airports

  • Kos International Airport Ippokratis (KGS), Kos Island - 40 km away, approx 59 min travel time
  • Rhodes International Airport Diagoras (RHO), Rhodes - 59 km away, approx 80 min travel time
  • Milas Bodrum International Airport (BJV), Bodrum - 76 km away, approx 98 min travel time

Dive Sites

Dive Centres

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typical water conditions and visibility like for scuba diving in the Dodecanese islands?
While specific visibility data is not provided, divers can expect warm waters in the Dodecanese. The best water temperatures are found in August at 28.71°C, followed by September at 27.67°C, and July at 26.49°C. These months offer very comfortable conditions for diving.
What kind of unique marine life and underwater ecosystems can divers expect to encounter in the Dodecanese?
Divers in the Dodecanese can explore diverse underwater ecosystems including vibrant reefs, dramatic walls, and fascinating sea caves. The region also has a history of sponge harvesting, suggesting the presence of sponges. For more details on potential marine life, visit the DivePlnr wildlife database.
Which are considered the best dive sites in the Dodecanese for both beginner and advanced divers?
Based on the provided data, all listed dive sites in the Dodecanese, such as Saria - Palatia Bay and HMS Panther, are categorized as 'intermediate' difficulty. Therefore, specific recommendations for beginner or advanced divers are not available within this dataset. Divers should consult local Dodecanese dive centres for site suitability based on individual experience.
Are there specific dive sites in the Dodecanese that are particularly suitable for different experience levels, from novice to experienced?
The provided data indicates that all detailed dive sites in the Dodecanese, including popular spots like St Paul s Bay and Archangelos Cave, are suitable for 'intermediate' experience levels. There are no specific sites categorized as 'novice' or 'experienced' within this information. Divers are encouraged to discuss their experience with one of the 14 local Dodecanese dive centres to find the best fit.
What are the most convenient ways to get to the Dodecanese islands for a diving holiday?
The provided data does not contain information regarding convenient ways to get to the Dodecanese islands for a diving holiday. For travel logistics, it is recommended to research transportation options to major islands like Rhodes, Kos, or Kalymnos.
When is the best time of year to go diving in the Dodecanese, considering water temperature, visibility, and marine life activity?
Considering water temperature, the best time to dive in the Dodecanese is during the warmer months. August offers the highest average water temperature at 28.71°C, followed closely by September at 27.67°C and July at 26.49°C. While specific visibility and marine life activity data are not provided, these months offer comfortable diving conditions. For general guidance on dive seasons, visit DivePlnr's When to Dive section.
Are there any notable wreck dives or unique geological formations that are highlights for divers in the Dodecanese region?
The Dodecanese region is indeed a highlight for divers seeking wreck dives and unique geological formations. Notable wreck sites include the HMS Panther, TENARON (TAINARON) S, and the Thor Star Wreck, with the region having a history of WWII wrecks. Divers can also explore impressive geological formations such as Archangelos Cave, Achata Arch, and the Samos Free Fall wall dive, alongside other captivating sea caves.
How do seasonal variations, such as the Meltemi winds, affect diving conditions and site accessibility in the Dodecanese?
The provided data does not contain information regarding how seasonal variations, such as the Meltemi winds, affect diving conditions and site accessibility in the Dodecanese. Divers planning a trip should consult local Dodecanese dive centres for up-to-date conditions and site availability.