The Best Snorkelling Spots In Greece

Best time to go: May–October; water temperatures 20–27°C during the summer.  

Kit: Mask, snorkel, fins – most Neilson Beach Clubs and local hire shops can kit you out.

Visibility: Expect 10–30 metres of clarity in most Greek spots .

When to snorkel: Early morning is the best time. The waters are calmer, there’s better visibility, fewer boats and swimmers disturbing the sea floor .

Look for sea caves & rocky headlands: Sea caves and rocky headlands are always more interesting than open water and sandy beaches.

Don’t stand on anything:  Sea urchin spines are painful and the ecosystem is fragile, so tread very carefully. 

The good news about snorkelling in Greece is that most places are great. And with hundreds of islands and thousands of miles of coastline, there’s no shortage of places to snorkel. That being said, some places are better than others. So, to give you a bit of a steer, we’ve pulled together a list of our favourite places to snorkel in Greece.

Lefkada (Lefkas) - A hidden gem in the Ionian

Lefkas (Lefkada to me and you) is Greece’s hidden gem. It has history, quaint little villages littered with tavernas, amazing beaches and most importantly, incredible snorkelling spots.  

Vassiliki Bay, a wide, expansive stretch of crystal-clear water is a good place to start with. The best snorkelling is around the rocky edges of the bay where you can expect to find everything from starfish, hermits, limpets, mullets and painted comber. And if you’re lucky, you may even spot an octopus or seahorse.

Other snorkelling spots in Lefkas include Agiofili Beach, known for its rocky seabed and crystal-clear waters, and Ammoussa Beach, a quieter, sheltered cove protected from seasonal winds.

Want to go snorkelling in Lefkas as well as enjoy over 25 other activities? Check out Cosmos Beach Club 

Rhodes – Bays and beyond

Everybody’s heard of Rhodes with its UNESCO town, ancient acropolis and Faliraki – okay, maybe not that one. But not everyone knows how good it is for snorkelling and water sports. With clear, calm waters and rocky shorelines, it’s teeming with sea life waiting to be discovered.

Kallithea Bay is a great starting point, with its rocky creeks and sea caves playing host to an array of fish around every corner.
If you’re looking for one of the most idyllic snorkelling spots in Greece, then Lindos Bay and Pallas Beach are worth a mention. Situated beneath the Lindos Acropolis, you can snorkel in the shadows of the temple to the Goddess Athena, safe in the knowledge that she’s looking down on you as you explore the clear, shallow waters, uncovering sea urchins or chasing sea bream.

If all of that sounds interesting to you, then you can stay at Levante Beach Club, which is just a thirty-minute drive north of Lindos and also offers a glorious beach perfect for snorkelling, windsurfing, wakeboarding and other water sports.

Kefalonia – shipwrecks and pine-fringed coves

Sandy coves? Check. Crystal-clear Ionian Sea? Check. Idyllic beaches with pine-fringed coves? Check. A shipwreck? Check. Kefalonia really has it all. 

Foki Beach near Fiskardo, is a sheltered cove surrounded by pine trees with some of the calmest waters in Greece. It’s just you and your snorkel and the crystalline waters. 

Further down the coast, you will find Antisamos beach, famous for being one of the locations used in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. It was chosen for its romantic and charming coastline and turquoise blue waters. But that isn’t why we’ve chosen it as one of the best snorkelling spots in Greece; we’ve chosen it because of its abundance of marine life, calm, sheltered cover, and accessibility for all levels. Oh, and there’s a shipwreck that isn’t too far from the shore, as well. 
 

The Peloponnese – Greece's Best-Kept Secret

The Peloponnese, Greece's famous three-tipped peninsula, is Greece's best-kept snorkelling secret. Its long and varied coastline, with sheltered coves, means it's the perfect combination of being accessible to everyone whilst offering plenty of hidden bays and rocky coves to explore.

The Messinia region, on the western side of the peninsula, is a great base for exploring. Highlights include Voidokilia – one of the most photographed beaches in Greece – plus Methoni with its beautiful cove, and the quieter Finikounda, which is a little less crowded.

Analipsi Beach and Stoupa Beach are also an option, with the former the home to Messini Beach Club and turtles nesting there.

Ready to explore the underwater world of the Peloponnese? Book your spot at Messini Beach Club today.

Zakynthos – The Island to Swim with Turtles

Home to Loggerhead Sea Turtle nesting sites, Zakynthos is a great choice if you want to experience swimming with these gentle giants in the wild.

Laganas Bay, from May to October, is one of the main nesting areas but you can also snorkel with these magnificent sea creatures at Gerakas Beach and Dafni Beach, if you're looking for somewhere a little quieter.

Corfu – Best for Caves and Wrecks

People always talk about Corfu's rich history and world-class beaches, but it's under the sea where it really comes alive. If you peek beneath the water's surface, you'll find shipwrecks and vibrant reefs full of life – a snorkeller's paradise.

Paleokastritsa Beach, nestled on the northwestern coast, offers postcard-worthy views with its winding, striking bays. It is also home to a small-boat wreck that hosts a variety of marine life and is easily accessible for snorkellers.

Avlaki Beach is widely regarded as the island's best snorkelling spot. With a pebble beach and great water clarity, this is the place for those who prefer calm over crowds.

Day trips to the neighbouring island of Paxos are common too, with the Blue Caves a real highlight thanks to its crystal-clear waters and turquoise-blue hues. Beyond their natural beauty, the Blue Caves hold a special place in local folklore, with legends suggesting that nymphs and sea gods dwell in these mysterious caverns. Some tales even suggest that the caves were once used as hideouts by pirates. So, you might end up picking up some treasure as you snorkel your way around the caves.

Crete – Big Island Energy, Big Underwater World

Greece's largest island, Crete, has it all – from glorious beaches, imposing mountains, steep gorges and perfect snorkelling conditions. Western Crete is famous for its stunning rock formations that extend below the surface, making it an ideal destination for underwater exploration.

Elafonisi Beach, located southwest of Crete, is an excellent snorkelling spot for beginners and families. Famous for its pink sand and dreamy turquoise waters, it offers shallow lagoons and gentle currents.

If octopus, starfish and sea sponges are at the top of your must-see list, then Skinaria Beach is for you. With its shallow, protected and rocky seafloor, it certainly is one of the best places to snorkel in Greece.

Ultimately, when it comes to places to swim, snorkel and explore the sea, Greece is hard to beat. With endless options and beaches to choose from, it’s difficult to narrow it down to just a few.

For beginners and families, staying at one of our Beach Clubs in either Lefkas, Rhodes, or the Peloponnese is a great option. You can explore the marine life around the calm bays in the morning and sample one of our other 25 activities in the afternoon - all included in the price of your holiday.

If you’re a little more experienced and looking for that WOW-factor, then it’s hard to look past Crete and Zakynthos.
Don’t fancy snorkelling and looking for other things to do in Greece, then check out our posts on where to windsurf in Greece and the complete guide to cycling in Greece.