Diving in Zakynthos & Ionian Islands

Marine Life in Zakynthos & Ionian Islands

Home to 24 recorded species including 12 reef fish, 4 whales & dolphins, 2 crabs & lobsters, 2 clams & mussels, 2 seagrass & algae, 1 other.

Dive Site Difficulty in Zakynthos & Ionian Islands

Zakynthos & Ionian Islands has 1 advanced dive sites - suitable for experienced divers.

Marine Protected Areas in Zakynthos & Ionian Islands

• Ethniko Thalassio Parko Zakynthou - National Marine Park (IUCN Category IV)
• Amvrakikos gulf - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Messolonghi lagoons - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Kotychi lagoons - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Paraliako dasos Nikopoleos - Mytika Prevezas - Aesthetic Forest (IUCN Category III)
• Perioches Gyras kai Dimosari Lefkadas - Others (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Periochi dimon Argous kai Mideas (perioches 5 kai 5a) - Nature reserve area (IUCN Category IV)
• Zones apolytis prostasias AP1, AP2, AP3 kai AP4 Ethnikou Parkou limnothalasson Mesolongiou - Absolute nature reserve zone in National Park (IUCN Category Ia)
• Zones prostasias tis fysis PF1, PF2, PF3 kai PF4 Ethnikou Parkou limnothalasson Mesolongiou - Nature reserve zone in National Park (IUCN Category VI)
• Zones A2, A3, Ia, Ib, P1, P2, P3, Y, kai Y’ Ethnikou Thalassiou Parkou Zakynthou - Nature reserve zone in National Marine Park (IUCN Category IV)
• Ethniko Parko limnothalasson Mesolongiou – Aitolikou, kato rou kai ekvolon Acheloou kai Evinou kai nison Echinadon - National Park (IUCN Category VI)
• Strofades Dimou Zakynthion - Wildlife Refugee (IUCN Category IV)
• Vatatsa - Divari - Ormos Valtou - Drepano Dimou Igoumenitsas - Wildlife Refugee (IUCN Category IV)
• Leichoura Dimou Pteleou - Wildlife Refugee (IUCN Category IV)
• Ygrotopoi kai nisia kolpou Atalantis - Wildlife Refugee (IUCN Category IV)
• Ekvoles Spercheiou-Anthlili-Roditsa - Wildlife Refugee (IUCN Category IV)
• Ethniko Parko Ygrotopon Amvrakikou - National Park (IUCN Category VI)
• Ethniko Parko Ygrotopon Amvrakikou - Periochi prostasias tis fysis - Nature reserve zone in National Park (IUCN Category VI)
• Periochi Perivallontikou Elegchou Ethnikou Parkou Ygrotopon Amvrakikou (Zoni C) - National Park - Peripheral zone (IUCN Category Not Assigned)
• Ethniko Parko Ygrotopon Amvrakikou (Zoni B: Periochi Eidikon Rythmiseon) - Others (IUCN Category VI)
• Ethniko Parko Ygrotopon Kotychiou - Strofylias - National Park (IUCN Category VI)
• Perioches Prostasias tis Fysis Stenon kai Ekvolon Acheronta kai Kalama kai Elous Kalodikiou kai Perifereiaki Zoni - Nature reserve area (IUCN Category VI)
• AMVRAKIKOS KOLPOS, DELTA LOUROU KAI ARACHTHOU (PETRA, MYTIKAS, EVRYTERI PERIOCHI, KATO POUS ARACHTHOU, KAMPI FILIPPIADAS) - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• EKVOLES (DELTA) KALAMA - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• PARAKTIA THALASSIA ZONI APO PARGA EOS AKROTIRIO AGIOS THOMAS (PREVEZA), AKR. KELADIO - AG. THOMAS - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• KOLPOS LAGANA ZAKYNTHOU (AKR. GERAKI - KERI) KAI NISIDES MARATHONISI KAI PELOUZO - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• NISOI STROFADES - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• ESOTERIKO ARCHIPELAGOS IONIOU (MEGANISI, ARKOUDI, ATOKOS, VROMONAS) - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• PARAKTIA THALASSIA ZONI APO ARGOSTOLI EOS VLACHATA (KEFALONIA) KAI ORMOS MOUNTA - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• DYTIKES AKTES KEFALONIAS - STENO KEFALONIAS ITHAKIS - VOREIA ITHAKI (AKROTIRIA GERO GKOMPOS - DRAKOU PIDIMA - KENTRI - AG. IOANNIS) - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• NISOI PAXOI KAI ANTIPAXOI KAI EVRYTERI THALASSIA PERIOCHI - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• PARAKTIA THALASSIA ZONI APO KANONI EOS MESONGI (KERKYRA) - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• DELTA ACHELOOU, LIMNOTHALASSA MESOLONGIOU - AITOLIKOU, EKVOLES EVINOU, NISOI ECHINADES, NISOS PETALAS - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• PARAKTIA THALASSIA ZONI APO AKR. KYLLINI EOS TOUMPI - KALOGRIA - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• THALASSIA PERIOCHI KOLPOU KYPARISSIAS: AKR. KATAKOLO - KYPARISSIA - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• KOILADA KAI EKVOLES SPERCHEIOU – MALIAKOS KOLPOS – MESOCHORI SPERCHEIOU - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• LIMNOTHALASSA PYLOU (DIVARI) KAI NISOS SFAKTIRIA, AGIOS DIMITRIOS - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• AMVRAKIKOS KOLPOS, LIMNOTHALASSA KATAFOURKO KAI KORAKONISIA - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• YGROTOPOS EKVOLON KALAMA KAI NISOS PRASOUDI - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• NISIDES STAMFANI KAI ARPYIA (STROFADES) KAI THALASSIA ZONI - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• DIAPONTIA NISIA (OTHONOI, EREIKOUSA, MATHRAKI KAI VRACHONISIDES) - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• DELTA ACHELOOU, LIMNOTHALASSA MESOLONGIOU - AITOLIKOU KAI EKVOLES EVINOU, NISOI ECHINADES, NISOS PETALAS, DYTIKOS ARAKYNTHOS KAI STENA KLEISOURAS - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• LIMNOTHALASSA KOTYCHI - ALYKI LECHAINON - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• KATO ROUS KAI EKVOLES SPERCHEIOU POTAMOU - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Ethniko Parko ygrotopon Kotychiou - Strofylias, Zoni A - Periochi Prostasias tis Fysis - Nature reserve zone in National Park (IUCN Category IV)
• LIMNOTHALASSES STENON LEFKADAS (PALIONIS - AVLIMON) KAI ALYKES LEFKADAS - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• DYTIKES KAI VOREIOANATOLIKES AKTES ZAKYNTHOU - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• ALYKI LEFKIMΜIS (KERKYRA) - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• THALASSIA ZONI APO ARGOSTOLI EOS ORMO MOUNTA - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• THALASSIA PERIOCHI DIAPONTION NISON - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• NISIDES LICHADES KAI THALASSIA PERIOCHI - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• KORINTHIAKOS KOLPOS - Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• DYTIKES KAI VOREIOANATOLIKES AKTES ZAKYNTHOU - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• LIMNOTHALASSES STENON LEFKADAS (PALIONIS - AVLIMON) KAI ALYKES LEFKADAS - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• ALYKI LEFKIMΜIS (KERKYRA) - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)

Getting to Zakynthos & Ionian Islands - Nearest Airports

• Aktion National Airport (PVK), Preveza - 43 km away, approx 62 min travel time
• Corfu Ioannis Kapodistrias International Airport (CFU), Kerkyra (Corfu) - 143 km away, approx 171 min travel time
• (Duplicate)Vlora International Airport (VLO), Vlorë - 260 km away, approx 299 min travel time