The 7 best diving spots in Rhodes

Fancy diving in the Greek islands? Discover our selection of the best diving spots in Rhodes!

On the Rhodian coast, you’ll find numerous coves licked by crystal-clear water. The seabed is abundant, with all the typical Mediterranean fauna. So there are plenty of diving spots in Rhodes to delight both diving aficionados and the more casual diver.

If you’ve got any energy left, you’ll be able to explore the region’s unspoilt nature and its many historical remains. The central mountains are covered with forests that are ideal for hiking.

So don’t wait any longer and discover the 7 best diving spots in Rhodes!

1. The wreck of the Giannoula K

Photo credit: Shutterstock – blue-sea.czvégétale

This cargo ship sank off Plimiri in 1981 after being caught in a storm. The shallow depth at which it lies makes it a perfect dive site in Rhodes for all levels. The boat lies slightly tilted on its side on a 21-metre sandy bottom.

You’ll be impressed by the cargo ship’s 110-meter length, which you won’t be able to explore in a single dive. Dive centers usually offer a package of 2 excursions to visit the wreck, but you could schedule many more before you’ve seen it all!

You’ll usually start by exploring the outside of the ship, the highest parts of which are 15 meters below the surface. You can admire the various remains and imagine what life was like for the sailors.

On the second dive, you’ll enter the wreck through large openings. Light illuminates the ship’s interior, allowing you to venture out in complete safety, always in the company of a guide. The engine room is not to be missed, with its many cables and tanks still in place.

The local wildlife has taken over the cargo, and you can see moray eels, triggerfish, lionfish and even turtles if you’re lucky.

2. Lindos cave

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Szymon Kaczmarczyk

The arrival by boat at Lindos is always spectacular. You jump off the boat facing a cliff on which the acropolis is enthroned. Once underwater, you’ll discover some of the best diving sites in Rhodes. No fewer than 6 different sites await you.

Drop-offs down to 70 metres are a delight for tec divers. Others can explore the wall according to their maximum depth. If you peek into the blue, you may spot bighead trevally or hunting tuna. Seals have even been spotted several times, but the likelihood of seeing one remains rare.

One of the best diving spots in Rhodes is Lindos, with its famous grotto, also known as the Cleobulus tomb. You enter two gigantic domes linked by an underwater corridor.

Inside, you’ll need your torch to find the small shrimps and nudibranchs that populate the walls. This dive in Rhodes is considered one of the best in the country!

3. Pentanissos

Photo credit: Shutterstock – blue-sea.cz

Pentanissos literally means « 5 islands ». It’s a group of islets off the coast of Lindos and one of the best dive sites in Rhodes. The configuration of the islands offers numerous possibilities in terms of itineraries. You can dive several times without returning to the same spot.

The fauna varies between species that seek refuge along the walls and predators that cross in the blue. Pentanissos is above all a network of caverns and underground passages that form a veritable labyrinth. A prime spot for those wishing to try their hand at underground diving.

4. Saint-Paul

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Evgenia Bolyukh

From Saint-Paul beach, you have access to 2 dive sites in Rhodes: the reef and the caves. The Saint-Paul reef is perfect for first dives or rehabilitation dives. Conditions inside the bay are ideal, with little current and good visibility.

The rock formations provide a habitat for typical Mediterranean fauna. You’ll see many rock fish, moray eels, octopus and beautiful coral formations. The Saint-Paul caves, at a depth of 18 meters, are accessible to open water divers accompanied by a guide. It represents an ideal diving spot in Rhodes for an underground speciality!

5. Ladiko

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Andrei Nekrassov

You’ll set off directly from the beach to reach this dive site in Rhodes. After suiting up, you swim a few meters and then empty your lifejacket to let yourself down. In ancient times, a ship ran aground in the bay. Although the wreck has completely disappeared, the bay is filled with artifacts such as amphorae and ceramic pots. Expect a dive of great archaeological interest.

At the end of the bay, an impressive drop-off plunges from 6 meters to a depth of 32 meters. You can explore the wall to the depth authorized by your certification. Look out for the multicolored nudibranchs feeding on the sponges. A few groupers cruise the depths, while in the blue, barracudas peacefully await their next prey.

6. Marine park

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Georgios Tsichlis

You’ll take a boat out to Makri Island, just a few kilometers off the coast of Rhodes. The marine park is an area protected from fishing, and is home to a wealth of marine life. You may be lucky enough to see dolphins following the boat, or even visiting you during the dive.

Yellowfin tuna have found refuge in this area spared by fishermen, and some specimens can weigh up to 200 kilos. Other species such as sea bass, groupers and sea bream will enhance your Rhodes dive.

A small wreck has been deliberately sunk, and is beginning to be invaded by corals and fish that have made it their habitat. The majority of dive sites are between 15 and 28 meters deep, making diving interesting for those with advanced open water certification or FFESSM level 2.

7. Kolymbia

Photo credit: Shutterstock – Beneda Miroslav

Kolymbia is an ideal site for beginners. Departure is from the shore, ideal for a gentle introduction to the world of scuba diving. The water is clear and calm, with no current, offering perfect conditions for a first dive in Rhodes.

At a maximum depth of 12 meters, the seabed alternates between sand, rock formations and Posidonia meadows. Many species hide in these different habitats, including multicolored fish, octopus and cuttlefish.

Magnificent black anemones can also be seen on the site, and the keen eye can spot some pretty nudibranchs.

Finally, during the dive, you can pass through a small tunnel through the rocks.