Diving - Visit Cyprus

In the interests of health, safety and environmental care, a number of guidelines are in place that you should familiarise with before embarking on a recreational dive.

Before the dive, please ensure that you follow and apply the points below:

Ensure that you are fit to dive. Both your body and mind must be 100% prepared.
Follow the instructions of the dive leader. Listen carefully to the pre-dive briefing and inform yourself about any navigation and emergency protocols, in the event that you are separated from the group.
Ensure that you haven’t forgotten any of your equipment at home/your hotel/the dive centre.
Check that your equipment has no malfunctions.
Perform a mutual buddy check.
Drink plenty of fluids. Dehydration can cause a multitude of problems. Avoid alcohol, excessive smoking and the use of drugs.
Arrange for travel and dive insurance.

During the dive, please ensure that you follow and apply the points below:

Don’t hesitate to cancel the dive if you or your buddy are not feeling well.
Never dive alone.
Equalize your ears frequently; start even before getting into the water.
Never hold your breath. Breathe normally at all times.
Stay in visual contact with the dive guide and your buddy throughout the dive.
Keep an eye on your air gauge. Indicate to the dive leader when your tank is half empty.
Don’t dive too deep; stay within the limits of your training and your dive computer (if you don’t have one, follow the dive leader on all occasions).
Don’t panic. Slow down and relax. This will save your energy and your air.
Protect the environment. Never litter and never disturb/harm/kill marine life. Marine life is fragile, so be aware of your equipment/arms/legs dangling and pay attention to fin kicks.
Control your buoyancy. Decent and ascent slowly. Use your dive computer or follow the dive leader.
Enjoy your dive. If you are not enjoying it for any reason, consider terminating the dive.

After the dive, please ensure that you follow and apply the points below:

Take good care of your gear. Clean/rinse it with fresh water.

Keep your gear safe and tidy and in one place away from direct sunlight.

An after-dive briefing is good practice. Discuss what went well and what went wrong. Find out how you can improve next time.
Don’t fly for at least 24 hours after the dive.
If you are feeling unwell, don’t keep it to yourself. You may just be tired, but you might also need medical attention.

Diving Safety – Cyprus Decompression Chambers

Posted on January 9, 2025 | by ioulia | Leave a Comment

Welcome to the Cyprus Deputy’s Ministry of Tourism dedicated section on diving and safety. Cyprus, with its stunning underwater landscapes and vibrant marine life, is a premier destination for divers. Among its many offerings, the island is home to specialized decompression clinics, ensuring that divers receive top-notch medical attention in the rare event of an accident.

Diving can be an exhilarating experience, but safety is paramount. In the unlikely event of an emergency, divers should remember to stay calm, ascend slowly to avoid decompression sickness, and seek immediate assistance from the nearest dive center or medical facility. Cyprus’s decompression clinics are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and staffed by experienced professionals, ready to provide the care needed to ensure a safe recovery.

Explore the depths of Cyprus with peace of mind, knowing that your safety is our priority.

Paphos General Hospital Hyberbaric Clinic

https://shso.org.cy/clinic/ypervariki-oxygonotherapeia/

Information Tel.: +357 26803114

Appointments

Monday – Friday +357 26803486
Secretariat telephones: +357 26 803113 / +357 26 803173

https://maps.app.goo.gl/t5wmALWMvbaTLxZbA

Ammochostos General Hospital Hyberbaric Clinic

https://shso.org.cy/clinic/ypervariko/

Information Tel.: +357 23200000

Appointments: +357 23200085

https://g.co/kgs/HSza29p

General Emergency Line in Cyprus 112

Freediving in Cyprus

Posted on January 9, 2025 | by cconstantinou | Leave a Comment

Explore the Depths of Tranquility: Freediving in Cyprus

Welcome to the breathtaking island of Cyprus, where azure waters beckon the adventurous spirit to discover the art of freediving. Nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus offers a unique and unforgettable experience for those seeking to explore the wonders beneath the surface.

Freediving, the practice of diving underwater on a single breath, is a mesmerizing way to connect with the ocean and unlock a sense of inner peace and harmony. Cyprus, with its crystal-clear waters, diverse marine life, and stunning underwater landscapes, provides the perfect playground for freedivers of all levels.

Whether you are a seasoned freediver looking for new challenges or a beginner eager to learn the basics, Cyprus has something to offer everyone. From shallow coastal reefs teeming with colorful fish to deep blue abysses where you can test your limits, the island’s underwater world is a treasure trove waiting to be explored.

One of the most popular freediving destinations in Cyprus is the stunning Cape Greco National Forest Park, where dramatic cliffs plunge into the sea, creating a paradise for underwater adventurers. Here, you can glide through underwater caves, swim alongside curious sea turtles, and immerse yourself in the tranquility of the ocean.

For those seeking a more structured introduction to freediving, Cyprus boasts a number of professional schools and instructors who can guide you through the fundamentals of breath-hold diving in a safe and supportive environment. Whether you are looking to improve your technique, increase your breath-hold capacity, or simply experience the thrill of diving beneath the waves, the expert instructors in Cyprus are here to help you achieve your goals.

So, pack your wetsuit, grab your mask and fins, and prepare to embark on an unforgettable journey into the depths of tranquility. Whether you are drawn to the serene beauty of the underwater world or the exhilarating challenge of pushing your limits, freediving in Cyprus promises an experience like no other.

Come dive into the magic of Cyprus – where every breath is a moment of freedom, and every dive is a step towards discovering the true essence of the sea.

Table Top

Posted on January 9, 2025 | by ioulia | Leave a Comment

This dive site is part of the Kavo Gkreko network of dive sites. Table Top is characterized by natural stone formations surrounded by Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows. In the small caverns, an array of colours can be seen from the sponges, as well as anemones, coralligenous algae and nudibranchs. The dive site ranges from 20 to 25 m depth. The rocks are brimming with marine life, such as fire worms, octopi, moray eels, and groupers. At the edge of the rocks, you find yourself in Posidonia oceanica meadows with lots of fish and gastropods that prefer to hide there.

Interesting facts: It is advised to perform this dive via boat rather than from the shore to avoid disorientation and missing the location.

Location: Kavo Gkreko – Ayia Napa, Ammochostos (34°58’25.74″N, 34° 5’0.78″E)

Type of dive site: Rock & seagrass

Depth: 25 m

Visibility: 20+ metres in good conditions

Access: Boat

Qualification required: Advance Open Water / Boat Diver

Dive category: Recreational diving

Features: Beautiful rock morphology forming small caverns covered in sponges as well as a flat rock in the shape of a “table”.

Tabletop by visitcyprus on Sketchfab

Green Bay

Posted on November 5, 2015 | by Christos | Leave a Comment

This picturesque bay is part of the Cape Gkreko network of dive sites, where friendly marine life flourishes in the crystal-clear waters and among the colourful pebbles.

As this is a shore dive with walk in entry – and an absence of currents or waves – it is considered to be the easiest dive sites in the region and is approved by major dive associations as a confined water training area, making it the perfect spot for beginners and introductory dives.
The site also introduces the marine life of the area in a delightful way at the ‘Fish Rock’ feeding station where large schools of seabream are a common feature and turtle sightings are frequent. Other species at the site include cornetfish, cuttlefish, octopi, ornate wrasse, parrotfish, pipefish, rainbow wrasse and starfish.

Divers can also enjoy a cultural element to this easy dive thanks to the artificial statues (replicas of Ancient Greek monuments), submerged at a depth of 10 metres, whilst there are fragments of ancient amphorae to be discovered on the seabed.

Location: Cape Gkreko – Protaras, Ammochostos
GPS Coordinates: 35° 0’1.13″N 34° 4’4.51″E
Type of Dive Site: Shore Dive
Depth: 11 metres
Visibility: 20 metres
Access:Shore (walk in)
Qualification Required: Open Water
Dive Category:Recreational Diving

Green Bay by visitcyprus on Sketchfab

For the Statue 1 click here
For the Statue 2 click here
For the Statue 3 click here
For the Amphorae click here

Chapel

Posted on November 5, 2015 | by Christos | Leave a Comment

The charming, little, white washed Agioi Anargyroi chapel that sits above this dive site gives it its name, with steps on the water’s edge leading down to the entry point where a sudden drop allows divers to descend fairly quickly.

Divers are then rewarded with the sight of beautiful, changing underwater scenery that unfolds with overhangs and ledges; cliff faces with fossils; rocks with sponges and encrusted, shattered amphorae on the seabed.

The highly popular and picturesque dive at Cape Gkreko is ideal for all levels of diver, and for navigation, deep dives and night dives – where octopi and eel hunt for their food in the darker hours. An array of other sea creatures live among the rocks and meadows of Posidonia seagrass, including bream, grouper, lionfish, moray eels, nudibranch and sea urchins.

Location:Cape Gkreko – Protaras, Ammochostos
GPS Coordinates: 34° 58’33.88″N 34° 4’33.98″E
Type of Site:Rocky, Sandy, Drop Off (cliff)
Depth:40 metres
Visibility:20+ metres
Access:Easy access up to the entry point (steps), but difficult entryand exit point.
Qualification Required:Open Water
Dive Category:Recreational and Technical Diving

Laboe Shipwreck

Posted on November 5, 2015 | by Christos | Leave a Comment

Location: Geroskipou, Pafos (Paphos) region

Type of dive site: Artificial reef

Depth: 27 metres

Visibility: 20 metres

Access: By boat

Qualification Required: Advanced Open Water (AOW)

Features: Although still relatively new, the artificial reef has already attracted some resident groupers and other varied marine life, including barracudas and bream.

Interesting Facts: Built in Germany in 1940 as a cruise ship, the Laboe was brought to Cyprus in 2006 and donated to the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and the Cyprus Dive Centres Association. It was sunk as an artificial reef with the aim of encouraging the increase of marine life to the area.

Laboe (diving_routes) by visitcyprus on Sketchfab

For the Laboe Diving Route click here

Amphora Cave

Posted on November 5, 2015 | by Christos | Leave a Comment

This marvel of nature created by the sea currents of two thousand years is a network of rock formations given its name from the amphorae-encrusted ceiling of one of the caves.

In particular, beginner divers – or the more timid – will enjoy the mostly sandy, flat surface of the site that offers an experience of cave with reef and offers plenty of natural light.

And when evening sets, the mood of the topography changes, with numbers of shrimps, lobsters, black sea cucumbers and cuttlefish venturing out, making the site perfect for night diving too.

At the deepest part of the dive are meadows of Posidonia seagrass where pearly razorfish in iridescent gold and red tones make their home, and sometimes stingray, whilst scorpionfish hide among the seaweed.
Other marine life to spot includes bream, damselfish, hermit crabs, moray eels, octopi and wrasse.

Location: Pafos
GPS Coordinates: 34°43’21.6″N 32°26’13.0″E
Type of dive site: Rocky and Sandy Bottom
Depth: 14 metres
Visibility: 20+ metres
Access: By boat
Qualification Required:Open Water
Dive Category:Recreational Diving

Category: Diving

3D MODELS

Diving Enterprises certified with the ISO 24803

Diving Responsibly – Guidelines

Diving Safety – Cyprus Decompression Chambers

Freediving in Cyprus

Table Top

Green Bay

Chapel

Laboe Shipwreck

Amphora Cave

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