Located in the Ionian Islands, Corfu is one of the most famous Greek islands, due to its brilliant beaches, fantastic architecture and lively nightlife. Corfu is also often popular due to the incredible water sports available around the island, the most popular of which is diving. Having mostly calm water, good visibility and incredible natural beauty, Corfu is filled with areas and caverns to discover, including the 5 listed below.
Colovri
The most famous diving site in Corfu, Colovri is an island easy to access by sailing from Corfu, surrounded by crevices, caves, boulders, and swim-throughs, with many more secrets to explore. Although the area is home to some colourful wildlife, the caverns, canyons, and cliffs make this site a unique diving experience. One of the most interesting parts of the dive site is the artificial reef, created from old cars and other scrap metal. With all the different areas to explore, from the shallow crevices to the steep drop-off, this site is perfect for all experience levels.
Monastery
One of the most popular dive sites in Corfu, Monastery is the perfect diving place for people who love to marvel at the array of marine wildlife Greece has to offer. Octopuses, shrimp, eels, crayfish, and other fishes and sea life can be found hidden through the caves. Named after the overlooking Monastery of Pantokrator, the site is a must-visit during your dive around the Corfu area. The site is located 100m off the coast and has a maximum depth of 25m, with so many different caves to explore depending on your experience level.
Hole of Ha
The Hole of Ha is one of the best cavern diving sites in Greece and is great for open-water diving. This site is famously the reason Corfu is sometimes known as the ‘cavern diving capital of the world’ due to its brilliant visibility, low currents, and interesting mix of saltwater and freshwater. The site has no roof which allows sunlight in the hole in the mountain, so you can admire the stalactites and fossilised conch shells in all their beauty in a natural light show which illuminated the entire cave. However, the cavern is complex and deep and so it is recommended that only experienced divers should dive here.
Othonoi Island
If rather than natural beauty and wildlife you prefer to explore the fascinating sites of shipwrecks, Othonoi Island is the dive site for you. Home to two incredible shipwrecks, in addition to some other shallow areas and caverns nearby, Othonoi Island is the perfect day trip for lovers of all things diving. The shipwrecks include the HMS Ardent, a British ship which sank during World War II. However, these sites are quite deep, and so to see the wreckage you must be an experienced diver. Situated about 50 minutes away from Corfu, Othonoi Island is a one-of-a-kind place to adventure.
Paxos
Situated just a short boat ride from Corfu, Paxos is a small island which is known for its excellent diving conditions. Equipped with incredible visibility and almost no current, Paxos is home to some incredible spots and is well-known for its outstanding natural beauty, being one of the most picturesque of the Ionian Islands. The island is surrounded by many underwater rock formations and canyons which make it a great place for underwater photography. Some of the best sites include the Blue Grotes for more comfortable and experienced divers, or the Angelos Cave filled with interesting sealife, including the monk seal.
If you were interested in any of these sites, be sure to check out our Corfu dayboat itinerary, which is filled with even more incredible spots to discover in Corfu, as well as some great areas to try your hand at other watersports such as snorkelling.
