Snorkeling from Heraklion to Dia Island: Small group sailing

Sail to an island, swim in clear water, snorkel the shallows, visit a small church on foot

A 5.5-hour sailing trip from Heraklion to Dia Island with a small group of up to 10 guests, snorkeling equipment included. You sail the Cretan Sea in the afternoon, swim and snorkel in crystal-clear waters, explore the island's shallow bay and sandy beach, and return at sunset. The skipper speaks English, French, German or Greek and can teach basic sailing skills to anyone interested; children from age 1 are welcome.

The Experience

The boat leaves Heraklion at noon and takes about an hour to reach Dia Island across calm, open water. The journey itself is part of the day: you have space to sunbathe on deck, watch the Cretan coastline recede, and listen to the skipper explain how the boat moves with minimal wind. If you want to take the helm, you can learn the basics of sailing and feel how the boat responds — no experience needed. If you'd rather sit back, the deck is spacious enough to do nothing at all.

Once at Dia, you spend the afternoon in a small bay with shallow water where you can wade, swim and build sand castles with children, or put on the snorkeling gear and explore underwater. The water is clear enough to see what's below without going deep. A small path leads to a church on the island if you want to walk and explore beyond the beach. There's no schedule — you move between swimming, snorkeling and resting on your own rhythm.

The return journey happens at sunset, so you sail back to Heraklion as the light changes. Bottled water, snacks and soft drinks are on board throughout the day. The group stays small — a maximum of 10 people — which means the boat doesn't feel crowded and the skipper can give attention to anyone who wants to learn something or needs help with the snorkeling gear.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment.
• bottled water, soft drinks and snacks.
• the skipper's guidance in English, French, German or Greek.
• all fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Cretan Yachts

Is this one for you?At 5.5 hours, this trip leaves your morning free and brings you back by sunset, so it fits into a day with other plans. The small group size and the option to learn sailing or simply relax on deck mean the pace is yours — there's no schedule to keep once you reach the island, and no pressure to do anything but swim and rest if that's what suits you.

Traveler reviews

4.71★★★★★★★★★★

31 verified traveler reviews

5 ★26

4 ★3

3 ★0

2 ★2

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

How long is the actual sailing time to Dia Island?

The journey from Heraklion to Dia Island takes about an hour each way, so roughly two hours of sailing time total across the 5.5-hour trip. The rest of the afternoon is spent swimming, snorkeling and exploring the island itself.

What's the water like for snorkeling at Dia Island?

The water is crystal clear and shallow in the bay where you swim and snorkel, so you can see underwater without needing to go deep. The bay is a small, protected area where the water stays calm and visibility is good for spotting what's below the surface.

Can children come on this sailing trip?

Children are welcome from age 1 onward. The shallow bay at Dia Island is safe for wading and building sand castles, and the boat has a spacious deck where younger children can rest or play while the boat sails.

What snorkeling equipment do I need to bring?

Snorkeling equipment is included — the boat provides masks, fins and snorkels. You just need to bring a swimsuit and a towel; everything else for the water is supplied.

What time does the boat leave and return?

The boat leaves Heraklion at noon and returns at sunset, so the full trip is 5.5 hours. You spend the afternoon on Dia Island and sail back as the light changes in the evening.

Is there a guide on board, and what languages does he speak?

A skipper guide is on board and speaks English, French, German or Greek. He can teach basic sailing skills to anyone interested and answer questions about the boat, the island and the sea.