Diving in Chania: Certified Dives at Elephant Cave & Nestor Wreck

A 60,000-year-old elephant fossil sits inside a cave you can swim through at 12 meters deep.

Certified diving in Chania, Crete with two boat dives tailored to your certification level, including the Elephant Cave and the Nestor wreck in Greece's first diving park. You'll explore chambers with crystal-clear water and 20-meter visibility, then descend to artificial reefs and a sunken tugboat designed to support marine life. Full scuba equipment, pickup and a break with local delicacies are included.

The experience

The Elephant Cave is the centerpiece: two massive chambers with breathable air, maximum depth of 12 meters, and visibility over 20 meters. The shallow water (2 and 1 meter respectively) makes it accessible, but the fossils (elephant and deer remains from 60,000 years ago) are what draw divers back. The second dive takes you to Apokoronas Diving Park, Greece's first licensed diving park, where 44 artificial reefs create a thriving habitat. The Nestor, a tugboat sunk in April 2025 at 20 meters, is the park's centerpiece wreck and still new enough that marine life is actively colonizing it.

The dives depend on weather conditions, and the operator tailors both to your certification level. You get full scuba equipment, an air-conditioned vehicle for pickup and drop-off, and a break between dives with bottled water and a box of local delicacies. The whole outing runs about 4.5 hours. A live guide speaks English, Spanish, French, German and one additional language, so communication is straightforward.

What’s included

• Full scuba equipment rental.
• two boat dives tailored to your certification level.
• pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water and a box of local delicacies during the break between dives.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 9

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German 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.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Omega Divers

Is this one for you?Small groups keep the dives personalized and the sites less crowded. This works best if you hold a current diving certification and have at least moderate fitness, since the activity involves physical exertion and time underwater.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Greek.

What's inside the Elephant Cave that makes it worth diving?

The Elephant Cave holds 60,000-year-old fossils of elephants and deer embedded in the rock. Two huge chambers sit at a maximum depth of 12 meters with visibility over 20 meters, so you can see the fossils clearly in the crystal-clear water.

How deep is the Nestor wreck and what will I see there?

The Nestor tugboat lies about 20 meters deep in Apokoronas Diving Park. It was sunk in April 2025 as an artificial reef, so marine life is actively colonizing the wreck and the 44 surrounding artificial reefs in the park.

Do I need to bring my own diving equipment?

No. Full scuba equipment is included with your dive, so you only need to bring yourself and your certification card.

How long does the whole activity take?

The outing is about 4.5 hours from pickup to drop-off, including two boat dives and a break between them with water and local delicacies.