Dia Island Sailing Cruise from Heraklion: 6 miles of snorkeling & meal

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/16

Duration5h–6h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Snorkel in crystal water, then eat on the boat instead of rushing back to shore

You sail six miles offshore to an uninhabited island with crystal water, spend the day snorkeling and paddle boarding (weather permitting), eat a full Greek meal with wine on deck, and return to the old port by late afternoon. The crew handles all equipment and meal prep, so you show up and swim.

5h–6h

Step-by-step itinerary

Sail to Dia Island and enjoy activities

Depart from Heraklion Old Venetian port
Sail for 1 hour to Dia Island
Anchor in Saint George bay
Enjoy snorkeling, fishing, paddle boarding
Request equipment from crew
Have Greek salad and appetizers
Eat shrimp linguini main course
Drink wine, beer, or soft drinks
Eat tropical and local fruit salad
Relax on yacht or swim
Sail back to Heraklion

The Experience

The boat leaves Heraklion's old Venetian port and you're standing on deck watching the fortress walls shrink behind you. About an hour of sailing north and Dia Island appears — this uninhabited place six miles offshore where the water actually does look different, clearer somehow, and the crew is already pointing out where the Minoan port used to be, somewhere under the sand. The legend about it is odd: Zeus created it as a monster to destroy the Cretans, then turned it into stone to save them instead. You're not sure if that's real history or just something they tell everyone, but it sticks with you.

Once anchored in Saint George bay, the crew hands out snorkeling gear and fishing rods if you want them, and yeah, the paddle boards are there too — though the crew will tell you straight up that rough wind means those stay on deck for safety. The water is cold enough to wake you up but not so cold you can't stay in for a while. Some people fish, some dive down looking for pottery shards (the crew says it happens), and some just float and watch the hawks circle the cliffs. There's a small white church on the island with that Aegean architecture, and if you're not in the water you're probably looking at it or at the wild goats moving across the rocks.

Around midway through the morning, the crew brings out lunch. Shrimp linguini as the main, Greek salad, a pile of Cretan appetizers — olives, cheese, whatever they've made that day. They ask about dietary stuff beforehand, so vegetarian and gluten-free versions show up without fuss. Wine, beer, soft drinks, whatever you want with it. The fruit salad comes later, tropical and local mixed together, and by then you're half-dry and half-ready to get back in the water one more time before the sail back to Heraklion takes the afternoon.

What’s included

Snorkeling equipment, fishing gear, and paddle board use (weather dependent) are all provided.
Your meal includes Greek salad, Cretan appetizers, shrimp linguini with vegetarian and gluten-free options available, tropical and local fruit salad, and your choice of white wine, beer, soft drinks or ice tea.
The price covers fuel, all fees and taxes, and use of the restroom on board.
A swim stop is built into the itinerary.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cretan Sailing Cruises

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full day on the water with snorkeling and a proper meal included, without arranging transport, equipment rental or cooking — the fixed schedule and all-in pricing mean you just show up at the old port and the crew handles the rest.