Scuba Diving in Chania: Elephant Cave & SS Minnewaska Wreck

Few divers ever reach the Elephant Cave or the SS Minnewaska wreck. You will, with a guide who has spent decades finding them.

Scuba diving in Chania, Crete for certified divers, led by expert guides including Giannoulakis Nikolaos. You explore exclusive sites like the Elephant Cave and historic shipwrecks in waters with visibility often exceeding 30 meters, with small group sizes and personalized dive plans. The activity lasts around five hours and includes full equipment rental (except computers), snacks, an air-conditioned vehicle for transport, and diving insurance. Guides speak English, Italian, French, or Greek.

The experience

You need a valid diving certification to book this one. The dives happen in Chania's waters, where visibility regularly tops 30 meters: clear enough to see the detail in stalactites and stalagmites inside the Elephant Cave, and to read the hull markings on the SS Minnewaska wreck. The guide tailors each dive to your experience level, so whether you've logged fifty dives or five hundred, the pace and the sites match what you can handle safely.

Small groups mean you're not herded through a checklist with twenty other divers. Instead, you get time to move through glowing tunnels, along dramatic vertical walls, and around the marine life that lives in these spaces. The operator provides all the gear except your dive computer (tanks, weights, wetsuit, mask, fins), so you show up with your certification card and your log book. Snacks and an air-conditioned vehicle are included. If you want underwater photos or video of the dive, that's available for an extra cost at checkout.

The activity runs about five hours total. Dive sites can shift based on weather and sea conditions, which is how the operator keeps dives safe rather than sticking to a schedule that ignores the water. Children from age 12 can join if they hold a certification. The guide speaks your language (English, Italian, French, or Greek), and transport from your accommodation is part of the booking.

What’s included

• Guided dives with professional dive masters and instructors.
• full rental equipment except dive computers.
• snacks.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• diving insurance.
• all fees and taxes. Guides available in English, Italian, French, or Greek.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Child (12 to 17 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish, French, Italian and Greek

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Chania Diving Center

Is this one for you?Book this if you're a certified diver who wants to reach sites most operators don't take groups to: the Elephant Cave and the SS Minnewaska wreck are the draw, and small group sizes mean you spend the dive exploring rather than waiting for the group to catch up. The five-hour window and tailored dive plans work for divers of any experience level, as long as you hold a current certification.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, Italian and Greek.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (12 to 17 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What makes the Elephant Cave different from other dive sites in Crete?

The Elephant Cave is an underwater cavern system with stalactites and stalagmites: geological formations most divers never encounter underwater. The site sits in Chania's waters and requires a guide who knows how to navigate it safely, which is why it's not a standard stop on every dive operator's roster.

Do I need to bring my own dive computer?

Yes, dive computers are not included in the rental equipment. You'll need to bring your own or arrange one separately before the dive. All other gear (tanks, weights, wetsuit, mask, fins) is provided.

Can I book two dives on the same day?

Yes. One of the purchase options is two different dives in a single day for certified divers. You'd explore two separate sites (for example, the Elephant Cave on the first dive and the SS Minnewaska wreck on the second) with the same guide and group.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

The price covers guided dives with professional dive masters, full equipment rental (except computers), snacks, an air-conditioned vehicle for transport, diving insurance, and all fees and taxes. Underwater photography or video is optional and available for an additional cost at checkout.

Are there age limits for diving with this operator?

Children can join from age 12 onward, provided they hold a valid diving certification. All participants must be certified divers. This activity is not for beginners or non-certified swimmers.