If you're planning to enjoy diving in Greece, don't miss a trip to Corfu, which is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and which is surrounded by several smaller satellite islands. In Greek mythology, Corfu (also referred to as Kerkyra or Korkyra) is the site where Poseidon, god of the sea, brought the nymph Korkyra after falling in love with and abducting her. To be sure, it is easy to see how this connection with Poseidon is possible - you'll find yourself enchanted from the moment you slip beneath the crystal blue surface to the moment you end your last safety stop. Here are seven Corfu dive sites you'll be sure to find perfectly enchanting.
Hole of Ha
A beautiful cave that enters the mountainside from the adjacent sea cliff, the Hole of Ha is a massive chamber with an opening in the top, through which you can see the sky and even trees up above. To access the chamber, you enter a narrow passageway located at a depth of 18 meters, and after traveling for about 25 meters, you'll be inside this amazing room with rocky walls and light streaming in from above. Suitable only for divers certified to enter overhead environments, the Hole of Ha is one site you'll never forget.
The Bottle
This dive takes place in not just one cave, but two. The first gives the site its name, as the cave is shaped like a bottle inside; the second features a massive hole in the ceiling that leads back to the surface. Along the way, you'll be able to explore a colorful coral and sponge covered wall, where small fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates are plentiful. Maximum depth is 25 meters, and visibility is usually better than 20 meters.
Colovri
Probably the most famous dive site Corfu has to offer, Colvri is a 2,000 square meter island surrounded by a labyrinth of huge boulders, cracks and crevices, all teeming with colorful anthia, lobsters and shrimp, barracuda, groupers, moray eels, and other creatures. As you make your way to the outer edges of this underwater wonderland, you'll find yourself facing the endless abyss; turn back and enjoy a swimthrough on your way back to the surface. Maximum depth allowed here is 40 meters, with plenty to see in much shallower water.
The Anchor
A massive 3 meter anchor gives this site its name; located at a depth of 25 meters, you'll find it and its chain, still attached to all that remains of a steamer lost during the Second World War. There are also a pair of caves to explore, and the marine life is outstanding. Located only a short distance from the harbor, this dive is simply unforgettable.
Donald's Place
Named after a local diver, Donald's Place features a fantastic drop off and a cracked, crevassed wall where all kinds of colorful fish and moray eels peer out from the shelter of the tiny caves they call home. While the site's best features are at depths between 20 and 25 meters, maximum depth here is 30 meters. Offering excellent visibility at better than twenty meters most of the time, this site is great for macro photography.
Monastery
A fantastic reef situated just 100 meters from the coastline, and home to a wealth of marine life including blue comber, octopus, crayfish, and even cleaner shrimp, Monastery is renowned for its brilliant colors as well as for its caves. One of the best has its entrance at just 3 meters, and has an open roof; deeper down, at 22 meters, a second cave hosts all kinds of colorful life. Maximum depth at Monastery is 25 meters, and visibility is routinely better than 20 meters.
The Caves
Featuring maximum depth at 23 meters, and offering a pair of enchanted caves with one being suitable for cave diving only and the other having additional above ground features to explore, this site features a tunnel more than 20 meters long, which opens up into the caves, which are quite large. Offering excellent visibility at better than twenty meters, this site is suitable only for divers certified to enter overhead environments.
Offering a rich history and featuring such outstanding structures as a pair of castles that surround its capitol, Corfu is a splendid place to visit. Whether you dive only one of these magnificent sites or are if you have the good fortune to visit them all, you'll be left with no doubts as to why Poseidon chose Corfu as his domain.