The Best Snorkelling in Crete

With an almost magical feel, Crete, the biggest island in Greece, is an amazing place to vacation. Crete has fantastic Greek food, rich history, and stunning scenery. The superb beaches around the coast offer clear, clean water that’s great for all sorts of beach fun. Besides normal summer water activities, snorkelling in Crete is a super popular family-friendly thing to do. If you want to explore the Mediterranean Sea’s beauty, we have listed some of the top Crete snorkelling spots worth checking out!

Scuba diving on Crete ranks among Europe’s best summer scuba diving destinations. The dive season runs from April, lasting to October or November. Later in the year, many restaurants and hotels may already close for winter, depending where you go.

Balos Beach

For once, the hype holds true! Balos Beach’s sandy shore, pretty lagoon, and tiny picturesque islands make it clearly one of Crete’s top spots. Despite crowds, Balos keeps some wild and rugged charm. Facilities stay minimal – some sunbeds and umbrellas. But the wind-blasted, untouched bay has real character.

The lagoon’s warm, shallow water makes Balos great for families, though younger kids may dislike the lack of pizza or burger stands. Eager swimmers get catered to as well – the north seaside has deeper water ideal for swimming, with a gentle current that carries you back.

Finding Balos

Balos sits on Crete’s north-west corner, at the Gramvousa Peninsula’s tip. It’s remote, mostly accessible by ferry from Kissamos port town, about an hour out. Alternatively, bike from Kissamos via a rocky coastal path – tough riding but you’ll earn that swim!

Snorkelling in Crete at Balos

The lagoon suits beginner snorkelers, though sandbanks only have small fish. The good stuff lies further out. If lucky, see loggerhead sea turtles or rare Mediterranean monk seals. Just watch strong waves and currents outside the lagoon – things get rough out there, especially in windy winter/spring.

Is There Anything Nearby?

Nearby Gramvousa Beach also draws high praise. Many ferries stop two hours there, letting you hit two top Crete snorkelling spots in one day. A 15th-century fort built to repel Ottomans stands nearby too.

Elafonisi Beach

Elafonisi shows up on many best snorkelling spot lists for Crete. We usually avoid the obvious picks. But if you can snorkell away from the busy parts of Elafonisi beach, it’s worth your time. Over 100 rare plant types – and wildlife – welcome you as soon as you reach the nature reserve. In the water, swim close to shore to see the colourful sand. But the sea life gets way more interesting about 50 meters from shore. There you leave the smaller fish in the shallows. You can find octopus, lobster, striped fish, rays, snapper, and maybe even a turtle!

Finding Elafonisi

Elafonisi beach sits on the south-west tip of Crete, about a 90-minute drive from Chania city. During peak season, a bus goes from Chania at 9am and returns at 4pm. But renting your own ride works better since it’s more reliable. The roads get tricky after dark. So you may want to stay overnight in a cheap hotel.

Snorkelling at Elafonisi

Elafonisi Beach rates as possibly the best snorkelling in Crete. The lagoon’s crystal blue waters have great visibility – up to 30 meters. Currents there stay gentle. The first few sandbanks aren’t too exciting. Plus they usually pack with people. Instead, go past 50 meters to avoid crowds. There you’ll find different medium-sized fish swimming around volcanic rock cracks.

Anything close by?

The 1700s Chryssoskalitissa monastery is on the way from Chania. It’s worth a visit. This Christian monastery sits 35 meters above sea level. It takes 98 steps to reach it. Legend says one step is made of gold (“Chryssoskalitissa” means “step of gold”). Oddly, in 1824 a swarm of bees saved the monastery from the Turk-Egyptian army!

Kedrodasos Beach

Kedrodasos is just half a mile from Elafonisi, but it’s a totally different Greek beach. You’ll first notice how nice and uncrowded it is. There are no food stalls, jet ski rentals, or beach chairs. It just has stretches of untouched white sand, bordered by a 110-acre juniper tree forest. Whoever named the beach thought those were cedars (“kedros” means cedar).

The main beach area spans around 400 meters wide. Smaller beaches hide between rocks too. Some of these tiny ones give perfect privacy. That makes them popular with people who like nude sunbathing. Technically that’s illegal here, but no one’s been charged in this area since the 1970s!

Finding Kedrodasos Beach

Kedrodasos sits near Elafonisi Beach on Crete’s south-west corner. Drive most of the way there, but the small lot fills up fast and gets targeted by thieves. So booking a taxi ahead makes more sense. You need to be reasonably fit too. A steep rock stairway leads down to the beach, which feels harder climbing back up!

Snorkelling in Crete at Kedrodasos

Unlike Elafonisi, Kedrodasos stays protected from wind, so its waters stay very calm. Underwater rock formations act as excellent cover for large groups of fish. Look for cute sea horses. But watch for red scorpion fish with painful stinging spines too.

Is There Anything Locally?

Nothing – that’s the whole point! You may see black and yellow paint marking rocks, which seems weird. It directs hikers on the cross-Europe E4 trail, spanning 6,200 miles from Spain to Cyprus, including the path between Elafonisi and Kedrodasos. It’s a popular gap year trek, so people from everywhere pass through.

Matala Beach

Back in the 60s and 70s, Matala was very hippie, full of beautiful free-love people. Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and Joni Mitchell visited. Joni wrote her 1971 hit “Carey” about the ideal lifestyle there. Nowadays it’s more touristy, but the beach remains excellent – over 300 yards long with mainly fine golden sand and pebbly water’s edge. Uniquely, one whole side is a giant rock wall filled with man-made cave dwellings.

Nights can get rowdy, but avoid crowds for an impossibly romantic setting. That’s thanks to lights that illuminate carved caves around the beach. If you’re fit, a scramble path through rocks leads to a charming red sand beach locals call Ammoudia.

Finding Matala Beach

Matala is in the centre of Crete’s southern shore, about 50 miles from Heraklion city. A bus from Heraklion is $10 but the over 2-hour mountain drive is long. So getting a hotel makes sense. Most cost around $70, but family-run spots like Stergios Apartments offer deals if booked ahead.

Snorkelling at Matala Beach

Excellent – we’d say Matala is maybe the best for snorkelling on Crete’s south coast. The dramatic underwater landscape houses various sea creatures, like uncommon monk seals, turtles, and sometimes harmless basking sharks. Additionally, on either side, you can find the remains of an ancient Roman port that is now below sea level. So you can check ancient culture off your vacation to-do list!

What’s Nearby

Matala used to be a fishing village but grew into a cool tourist spot after hippies arrived in the 1970s. Bright colours decorate every street, even the roads, painted with hippie designs. These get redone each June for the free Matala Beach music festival – Europe’s biggest. A few beach-front hotels have space if you want to stay multiple days.

Chrissi Island

Chrissi Island sits at one of Europe’s southernmost points, so it barely counts as part of Crete. You need to take a one-hour ferry ride to reach its shell-covered sands and snorkelling spots. The good news – that means fewer crowds than other eastern Crete beaches. This far south also means swimming in the Libyan Sea, the warmest waters around.

Finding Chrissi Island

Chrissi sits under 10 miles off Crete’s south-east coast. Daily summer ferries from Ierapetra get you there in 45-55 minutes under normal conditions. No roads exist, so just wander cove to cove on arrival.

Snorkelling at Chrissi Island

Pretty awesome. Chrissi takes more effort to reach than other Crete spots, but rewards you with super clear water – maybe Clearest around Crete. The bays glint a swimming pool colour. On calm days with small waves, you can’t beat the underwater visibility. Top spots are Golden Beach and Agios Nikolaos Beach, both on the north shore, lined with ancient fossilized shells.

Local attractions

Not much – escaping everything is the point! But Lerapetra port town has some attractions like archaeological relics from eastern Crete, and a house where Napoleon once spent the night.

Koutalas Beach

Koutalas Beach hides just 15 miles west of Chania below Kokkino Chorio village, which gained fame as a filming spot for the 1964 film Zorba the Greek. This little-known bay means a chance you’ll be completely alone when snorkelling.

In fact, Koutalas is barely more than a tiny split in the high cliffs lining this western corner of Crete. It stretches inland around 40 meters, bordered by steep rock walls and ending in a narrow pebbly strip.

Finding Koutalas Beach

Koutalas Beach takes work to find. Even locals of little Kokkino Chorio village call it another name (or do they want to keep it secret?). You’ll definitely need your own wheels. Head west from nice Almyrida resort a couple miles on the main road, then turn onto a dirt track going north-west to a small lot. A path leads down to the sea.

Snorkelling at Koutalas Beach

The rocky sea floor might not suit paddling (wear reef shoes) but boosts underwater visibility. Swim some 20 meters out from shore where it gets deeper to often see starfish, anemones, rainbow fish, seahorses. We’ve even spotted a sea turtle here before!

Is There Anything Locally?

Have lunch at Almyrida’s fun beach-front tavernas or quirky pirate bars with cold drinks. Also visit Kokkino Chorio to try spotting 1964 Zorba The Greek film locations!

Kournas Lake

Not every good snorkelling area sits right on the coast. For this one, go inland to Crete’s unique freshwater pool – a surprisingly popular snorkelling spot. Just brace for temperatures more like wild swimming than warmer ocean dips. Ready for some goosebumps? Hop in to spot water snakes, turtles, and eels living their daily lives in Crete’s only freshwater lake. It’s a cool change to swap coral and sponges for reeds and mosses through your snorkel mask.

Finding Kournas Lake

Kournas Lake sits a quick drive south of the main northern Crete coastal road, about 10 minutes after turning south at Georgioupoli. Lots of parking exists on-site but may need to walk some to the banks.

Snorkelling in Crete at Kournas Lake

Don’t expect the big variety of sea creatures from Crete’s beaches. But Kournas Lake definitely offers the best freshwater snorkelling on the island. Dive into the cool highland water, where reeds and water mosses cover the rocks. You might spot terrapins, eels, or water snakes. Just watch for pedal boats!

Local attractions

Visit the small highland town of Lappa south-east of the lake. A rare European avocado farming spot thanks to its microclimate. Offers great health food shops and tavernas, plus ruins of an ancient village.

Almyrida

Almyrida sits east of Chania as a bit of a tourist town. It stretches along a wide, open, shallow bay crucial for snorkelers on Crete’s north coast, with nice views of the airport peninsula in the distance. Don’t expect to snorkel alone here. Almyrida draws crowds spring through summer for its easy access and many hotels and beach tavernas. Still, it’s rarely as packed as Malia or Chania itself, boasting a fun, family-friendly vibe.

Finding Almyrida

About a 40-minute drive from Chania Airport/town brings you to welcoming Almyrida, set on Crete’s north coast overlooking a bay to the Aegean Sea. Easy access to Heraklion and Rethymno too thanks to nearby Highway 900.

Snorkelling at Almyrida

Almyrida opens into two bays split by a fishing jetty and small sand spit. The west side suits snorkelers better, the east side swimmers – watch for incoming fishing boats in both. Best area is between the concrete platform and rocks at the bay’s end, very shallow and protected from north/north-west swells – good for beginners/families. Lifeguards commonly present too.

You likely won’t see bigger creatures, but maybe get lucky with a sea turtle. More common are schools of sardines and whitefish. Main risk is venomous weever fish in shallows, but they’re all around Crete uncommonly. Just take care where you step and bring reef shoes.

Things to do nearby?

Lots! Must-see Chania sits a 30-minute drive west – enchanting Venetian city with famous lighthouse and old harbour. Also, Zorba the Greek filming village Kokkino Chorio lies up the road.

Scuba Diving on Crete

Bring up diving in Crete and you’ll probably hear about the excellent underwater visibility. Yes, super clear waters exist in parts, but what is there to see? Turns out, plenty. Scuba diving on Crete takes you to WWII fighter wrecks, caves with surprise discoveries, and easy shore dives to relax on. And if you want to feel free without heavy gear, snorkelling around Crete is great too.

Crete Diving On Wrecks:

The Messerschmitt 109

A Messerschmitt 109 sits on the sea floor about 24 meters down, just 800 meters out from Crete’s coast. Well, most of it – the tail, a wheel, some pieces did break off in the crash, but the plane stays pretty intact. Only experienced divers get to explore this site with Divers Club Crete, due to its challenges. Currents, visibility issues, and depth make accessing the cockpit, machine gun, and other parts tricky until all conditions line up right. We don’t know how it got here, but eels and smaller sea life have made the wreck their new home.

Tip: It’s not all about the plane. It’s a full-day boat trip, including one hour just to get there – maybe chance to spot dolphins on the way. When diving, know that a nearby reef offers more to check out when done with this mini artificial reef too.

Video Credit: Magnificent Crete

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Byron I Wreck

Shore diving at Kala Limania lets you explore a 450-foot cargo shipwreck – industrial-scale wreck diving, weaving through mangled pieces, which stays fascinating. The Byron I met her fate on January 17, 1985. Loaded with sugar and sailing to India, storms sank her at the seabed. A few decades underwater means she hasn’t become a full artificial reef yet. So scrap and metal fans can view her inner workings in full glory. Eco Diving Center offers guided tours here, plus lunch, as part of the trip.

Video Credit: Philippos Marakis

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Cave Dives on Crete:

Elephant Cave

Elephant Cave is special. This secret nook near Souda Bay stayed undiscovered until 1999. Explorers marvelled at stalagmites, stalactites, and mixing caving with diving. Then they found fossilized elephant bones – an extinct species lying undisturbed for thousands of years. Some bones remain – plus deer bones. Omega Divers takes you to see the fossils, including a tusk, along with the stunning cave alone worth seeing despite your interest in palaeontology.

Tip: Crete protects its ancient treasures. Yes, it’ll be tempting to take a sea floor souvenir, but all relics are strictly off limits.

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Blue Cave

If you want more sea life with cave dives, join Divers Club Crete’s Blue Cave outing to Agia Pelagia – good for beginners and advanced divers depending on depth. Snapper and jack fish eye you entering the deep blue, where torchlight shows coral and sponges swaying gently. Early summer, lobsters hang out when food abounds. Otherwise it’s all shrimps keeping order for visiting divers. Ideal if your group has mixed diving abilities.

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Crete Shore Dives:

Skinaria

In Crete, shore dives aren’t just prime spots for beginners to practice frog kicks. They also boast great visibility, explorable caves, and good sea life. Top pick goes to Skinaria – which is why you’ll likely share the waters with snorkelers. Swim over a rocky sea floor where small fish and shrimp dart into shadows. Deeper waters bring bigger caves to swim through, giving newbies a taste of what’s to come in the open ocean. With up to 33 meters depth from shore, Skinaria also works for advanced divers seeking a relaxed holiday dive to hone skills or enjoy the warm water.

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Kalivaki Beach

Head to Kalivaki beach on the north coast. As soon as you take those first fin kicks in the shallows, feel the cooler water around your ankles from nearby mountain streams. Still very dive-able – just less balmy than southern spots. Fair warning: sea life isn’t the focus here. It’s mainly a beginner spot to learn and peek at a crumbling underwater Venetian harbour.

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Your Questions Answered

Is it Possible to Swim With Turtles in Crete?

Three sea turtle types live in Crete’s coastal waters: green, leatherback, and loggerhead. It’s perfectly okay to swim with them – they live over 60 years, so they’re used to inquisitive humans. During nesting season from late May to August, you’ll see many turtles going up Cretan beaches in the day to lay eggs in the warm sand.

Is Crete the Best Greek Island for Snorkelling?

Most agree Crete is the top Greek island for snorkelling because of its many great spots. Crete also features shallow coastal waters, making it good for kids, and low currents ensure you always have excellent underwater visibility. Crete has lots of secluded beaches where you can often snorkel alone undisturbed. If you are not already qualified It might also be worth looking into scuba diving on Crete and 3-4 day PADI certification.

How Warm is the Sea in Crete?

Crete’s summer sea temperature hits up to 77°F. Even winter only falls to around 62°F, letting you snorkel year-round without a wetsuit. The north coast tends a few degrees warmer with shallower water, so families with young kids may prefer beaches there.

Where to Find the Best Snorkelling in Crete?

Lots could claim the best snorkelling in Crete, from Elafonisi coves down south to beautiful Balos Lagoon up north. But generally, the west half around Chania and Libyan Sea boast more top snorkelling options. Judge your own favourite!

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Travel Planning Guide for Snorkelling in Crete

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