PANAYIA KASTRO - Halkidiki
The Panayia Kastro in Halkidiki isn't deep, but it’s packed with character. This old carrier, sitting flat on the seabed at just 6 metres, is practically begging for a long, relaxed dive. We love that you can spend ages just circling the deck, peering into the open holds where schooling damselfish flutter like confetti. The bow is our favourite part, with sponges and anemones giving it a shaggy, wild look. Visibility here is usually excellent, letting sunlight flood the wreck and highlight the rust-coloured hull against the sandy bottom. You’ll spot nudibranchs inching across the metalwork and octopuses tucked into crevices, their eyes watching you with careful curiosity. It’s an ideal spot for macro photographers looking for stable conditions, or for anyone who just wants to soak in the history of a well-preserved wreck without the stress of depth or current. Take your time here. We’d suggest going early in the morning for the best light, casting long shadows from the superstructure.
- Location
- Halkidiki, Greece, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 40.840250, 25.880306
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 6m
Marine Protected Area: Ethniko ygrotopiko parko delta Evrou - Periochi prostasias tis fysis - zoni B
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 PANAYIA KASTRO
- 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 PANAYIA KASTRO
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