Crete aims for network of more than 20 diving destinations within three years, engineer says

Crete could have more than 20 diving destinations within the next three years, according to civil engineer and port engineer Dimitris Robogiannakis, who discussed the island’s diving tourism potential on Cretaone 102.3 with Antigoni Andreaki.

Two diving parks have already been completed, at Ombrosgialos in Apokoronas and at Stalida in Heraklion. Two more, in Gerani, Rethymno, and in Ierapetra, have been formally established through publication in the Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ). Around ten additional sites are at various stages of licensing, Robogiannakis said.

Taken together with free underwater attractions open to divers, the overall plan could create a network of more than 20 diving destinations across Crete within the coming years, he said.

Financing seen as the main obstacle

According to Robogiannakis, the remaining challenge is completing licensing procedures and securing funding to build the parks. “The big problem is essentially their financing, and then their licensing,” he said. State funding, resources from the Region of Crete and available programs have been used so far, he added.

Construction itself, he said, is not the difficult part. “These are easy projects, that’s the good thing. They are built quickly,” he noted.

Targeting high-spending visitors

Robogiannakis said the diving product could appeal to a different type of visitor than mass tourism. “We are talking about tourists who are mainly of a high income level and spend a lot of money,” he said.

Divers are not limited to activity at sea, he added: they travel between locations, rent cars, visit restaurants, and may extend their stay to see more destinations. “We’re talking about the tourists we want, an alternative form of tourism we are pursuing,” he said. Travelers weighing where to stay during a diving trip can browse places to stay in Crete, while those moving between dive sites often look to rent a car in Crete.

Competing with established diving markets

Egypt, Spain and Italy already have an established presence on the global diving tourism map, Robogiannakis said. He argued that Crete’s main advantage lies in sea conditions. “Our waters are safe, clear and warm. What else could a diver want to visit our country?” he said.

The stated goal is for Crete to build an organized presence in international markets, so that the diving parks do not remain simply coastal construction projects but become part of a marketable tourism product, alongside other experiences in Crete aimed at visitors.

One park, multiple dive routes

The diving parks are not single dive points but formally designated marine areas of roughly 15 to 20 stremmata (about 1.5 to 2 hectares), within which five, six or more dive routes can be developed, Robogiannakis said.

“Someone who comes can spend three, six or seven days in the same area,” he explained. The sites can include artificial habitats, shipwrecks and other points of interest, creating what he described as a complete underwater environment. At Ombrosgialos in Chania, two decommissioned Navy vessels have already been sunk, adding a further point of interest for divers.

Linking parks to shipwrecks

The next step, according to Robogiannakis, is connecting the diving parks with Crete’s shipwrecks. The island holds significant underwater archaeological and historical material dating from the Minoan period to more recent times, much of which remains untapped for diving tourism, he said.

“We can very quickly combine these things and build enormous momentum,” he said, describing a model in which diving parks, shipwrecks and underwater attractions are folded into a single tourism product and promoted together in international markets.

Depths suited to entry-level divers

The parks are sited at depths of roughly 10 to 20 metres, Robogiannakis said. “These are not dangerous depths,” he noted, adding that visitors with only basic diving certification can dive at these sites. Wave action is limited at these depths, he said, while artificial habitats and sunken structures can act as hubs for marine life.

Promotion remains the next challenge

The next step is not only construction, Robogiannakis said. Crete’s diving product needs to secure a place in tourism campaigns, international trade fairs and packaged holiday offers. “As a product, this needs to be featured at trade fairs, there needs to be promotion,” he concluded.