HMS HYTHE - Halkidiki
The HMS Hythe, resting at 60 metres, isn't a casual splash-and-go. This is one for the serious technical diver, and honestly, we think it’s one of Halkidiki’s most rewarding deep wrecks. She was a minesweeper, sunk in 1915 after a collision, and the feeling of history down there is palpable. You hit the deck, and immediately you’re struck by how intact she is – a testament to the cold, deep Mediterranean. We love dropping down the shot line and seeing her gradually materialise out of the blue, the bow still proud, the stern broken but recognisable. The visibility here is usually excellent, giving you a full appreciation of her 59-metre length. Inside, you can still make out the engine room, even some of the crew’s quarters if you’re careful and well-practised in wreck penetration. Look closely and you’ll find plenty of resident moray eels peeking from portholes, along with schools of inquisitive anthias flitting over the deck guns. Our favourite detail? The ship’s bell, still in place, encrusted with years of growth. It's a proper adventure, a deep dive into wartime history, and a genuinely special experience for those with the training to do it justice.
- Location
- Halkidiki, Greece, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 40.020668, 26.087000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 60m
Best Time to Dive in Halkidiki
The warmest water temperatures in Halkidiki occur in August, averaging 26.6°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 14.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 14.7°C
- February: 14.5°C
- March: 14.0°C
- April: 14.6°C
- May: 18.4°C
- June: 23.4°C
- July: 26.3°C
- August: 26.6°C
- September: 24.4°C
- October: 21.2°C
- November: 18.6°C
- December: 16.3°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Halkidiki
- AGIOS NIKOLAOS - 55m (wreck)
- Akti Kalogrias
- ALEKOS - 55m (wreck)
- ANTHOULA - 11m (wreck)
- Armenistis bay - 5-20m (reef)
- Avlaki
- CAPTAIN NIKOS (PROBABLY) - 20m (wreck)
- Dias island - 10-25m (reef)
- Dolphin Diving Center
- ERIKA - 9m (wreck)
- EVDOKIA - 50m (wreck)
- FAIRY TALE - 24m (wreck)
- FETICH BOULEN - 10m (wreck)
- Fidonisi
- Finger reef (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to HMS HYTHE
- AQUALAND - SSI, PADI, CMAS
- ARGOS DALIS MERKEZI
- AZURE DIVING CENTER - SSI
- BLUE DIVING CENTER
- CAT DIVING CENTER
- Dive Club Kassandra - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Halkidiki
Home to 22 recorded species including 5 reef fish, 5 hard corals, 4 other, 3 crabs & lobsters, 2 soft corals, 2 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
- Pink Sea Fan (Eunicella verrucosa) - Soft Corals
- Sunset cup coral (Leptopsammia pruvoti) - Hard Corals
- Bushy Coral (Cladocora caespitosa) - Hard Corals
- Leidy's Comb Jelly (Mnemiopsis leidyi)
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- Garrupa (Serranus cabrilla) - Reef Fish
- Devonshire cup coral (Caryophyllia (Caryophyllia) smithii) - Hard Corals
- Common brittlestar (Ophiothrix fragilis)
- Neptune's lace (Reteporella grimaldii)
- Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Star Coral (Madracis pharensis) - Hard Corals
- Red coral (Corallium rubrum) - Soft Corals
- Salema (Sarpa salpa) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Sand hopper (Talitrus saltator) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
- Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Beadlet anemone (Actinia equina) - Hard Corals
- Mediterranean feather star (Antedon mediterranea)
Recommended Packing List for HMS HYTHE
Based on average water temperature of 19.4°C, currents 6 cm/s.
- Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 19°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