Catamaran to Dia Island from Heraklion: sail, swim, snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (77 reviews) 100% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/8

Duration5h 30m

GroupUp to 17

LanguagesEN · EL

Mobile ticketAccepted

Sail out, jump in the clear water, paddle back relaxed

A catamaran sails from Heraklion to Dia Island for a morning and afternoon of swimming, snorkeling and stand-up paddleboarding in crystal-clear Cretan waters. The boat is a brand new Lagoon 46 catamaran; lunch, fresh fruit, wine, beer and soft drinks are prepared on board and included. The trip runs 5.5 hours total, with roughly three hours at the island before the return sail to Heraklion. A live guide speaks English and Greek throughout.

The Experience

If you land in Heraklion with a free afternoon or wake up on your first morning in Crete wanting to be on the water, this catamaran departs daily and picks up from the port. The sail to Dia Island takes about an hour—long enough to settle on deck, watch the Cretan coastline recede, and feel the shift from land to sea. The boat is a new Lagoon 46, a catamaran built for stability and space, so the crossing is smooth even if the wind picks up.

Once anchored at Dia Island, the crew sets you loose. Swim straight into the water—it stays clear and shallow near the boat, then drops deeper if you want to explore. Snorkeling gear is on board and ready; the underwater life along the north coast is rich enough that you'll see fish and the seabed without hunting for it. If you want to stay upright, stand-up paddleboards are free to use; the crew will show you how to launch from the catamaran and paddle around the island. Most people rotate between swimming, snorkeling and the boards across the three hours at anchor, with breaks to dry off and sit in the sun.

Around midday the crew prepares a freshly made lunch on deck—traditional Cretan pasta, fresh fruit, bread, and wine or beer if you want it. Water and soft drinks are unlimited. After eating, some people nap on the loungers, others take photos of the island or paddle out again. There's no schedule to follow once you're anchored; the crew watches the time and calls everyone back to the boat for the return sail to Heraklion, arriving around mid-afternoon.

What’s included

Catamaran sailing to Dia Island and back to Heraklion.
snorkeling equipment.
stand-up paddleboards.
freshly made Cretan lunch.
fresh fruit.
white wine, beer and soft drinks.
all fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Green Cruises

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and Greek, so you follow the commentary and instructions in whichever language is comfortable—no translation lag, no guessing what the crew is saying. Bring swimwear and sunscreen; everything else for the water is on the boat.