Greece


A peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of around two thousand islands, Greece has one of the longest coastlines totalling almost 14,000 kilometres.

For many years, recreational diving was restricted throughout Greece due to the numerous underwater archaeological artefacts that exist. However, the introduction of Law 3409 in November, 2005 revolutionised the recreational scuba diving industry by introducing the following changes:

From where diving was only permitted in specific areas, it is now allowed throughout the whole of Greece. Certain areas however do remain off limits; these include diving in areas formerly known to contain archaeological artefacts as well as (a) shipping lanes or harbours (b) areas where naval ships or armed forces personnel carry out exercises or other activities (c) areas where hired motor boats can travel one hundred metres or less from their starting-point (d) areas where prohibitions have been imposed by legislation that designates marine areas as protected, or by the administrative and operational regulations or plans of competent administrative authorities (e) wherever there are underwater cables or systems installed by utility companies (f) wherever the Coastguard Authority, in a duly justified decision, imposes prohibitions for reasons of safety of ships or personnel.

The Ministry of Merchant Marine now supervises and controls all underwater activities in Greece. The functions performed by the ministry, require the involvement and cooperation of a number of public services, regional services, international organizations as well as those of professional and social agencies.

Dive schools and centres, now referred to as 'service providers', choose to provide one or more, or all of the following services: Diver training, organised and guided diving & equipment rentals. They are bound to follow EN 14467 standards and service providers offering organised and guided diving as well as equipment rentals also undergo annual audits by an authorised body.

For training agencies to enable their instructors to issue their certifications in Greece, the agencies must be recognised members of the European Underwater Federation and must also apply for recognition via the Ministry of Merchant Marine. The following training organisations are officially established and currently recognised in Greece: Association of Nitrox Divers International, Professional Association of Diving Instructors, International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers, The Greek Diving Federation, National Association of Underwater Instructors and Scuba Schools International.

Solo diving and underwater fishing with scuba are not allowed. Divers holding certifications other than those listed from the above mentioned training organisations, can only dive through the services of a licensed service provider; the same applies to all divers wishing to participate in night diving.

- Peter Castrinoyannakis







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