One of the most exciting new attractions, which will open in 2025 in Europe, is the diving park in the location of Ombros-Gialos, in the municipality of Apokoronas in the prefecture of Chania.
The park will offer visitors a magical underwater adventure. Under construction are the artificial reefs, which will be developed in over 60,000 square meters, with 37 specially designed structures and two sunken warships,
The depth of the park ranges from 8.5 to 25 meters. 3 diving routes will be created for advanced and beginners.
Construction began last October. The park is scheduled to open no later than the summer of 2025.
The joint ministerial decision
A joint ministerial decision of the Ministers of National Defense, Environment and Energy, Culture, Rural Development and Food, Shipping and Island Policy and Tourism approved, on September 4, 2024, the possibility of burying thirty-seven (37) main units of artificial habitats (reefs) and seven (7) units of diving route habitats in the diving park at the location “Ombros Gialos” DE Vamos Municipality Apokoronas.
The artificial reefs, which have been located since last March in a guarded area in the port of Souda awaiting the appropriate approvals, will be buried with the aim of improving the underwater flora and generally serving the needs of the diving park. After the scuttling of the reefs, the scuttling of two decommissioned Navy ships will follow, creating the right conditions to attract fans of diving tourism.
The first diving park in Greece
The Municipality of Apokoronas recalls that for the protection of the catch and the safety of divers in the Diving Park, the installation of an underwater monitoring system has been planned while accompanying accessibility and regeneration projects for the area have already been decided. So far, the amount of 484,000 euros has been allocated by the Region of Crete.
The Mayor of Apokoronas, Charalambos Koukianakis, immediately after the issuance of the joint ministerial decision, stated:
“We were called upon to overcome bureaucratic obstacles, as a legislative regulation was needed that would essentially correct obstacles that the new Joint Ministerial Decree had placed on the already licensed park of the Municipality of Apokoronas and to proceed with the approval of the installation based on the previous Joint Ministerial Decree. We were very pleased to have succeeded and we are proud that we will implement the first diving park in Greece, stimulating the island’s alternative tourism and in particular the very promising diving tourism”.
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