Athens Riviera and Saronic Gulf

Use a conservative computer and follow no-decompression limits. Carry and know how to deploy an SMB, especially near boat routes. Do not penetrate wrecks, caves or overhead spaces unless trained, equipped and explicitly guided for that environment. Freedivers should never dive alone and should use visible buoys, trained safety and oxygen-backed instruction. Summer heat can dehydrate divers before they notice it; drink water before and after dives. After diving, keep at least 12 hours before flying after a single no-decompression dive and at least 18 hours after repetitive or multi-day diving, then follow the more conservative guidance from your computer, agency or DAN.

For life-threatening emergencies in Greece, call 112. For marine emergencies, the Hellenic Coast Guard emergency number is 108. DAN Europe provides a 24/7 diving emergency hotline at +39 06 4211 5685. Athens has hyperbaric medicine services, including military and private facilities, but divers should route suspected decompression illness through emergency services or DAN rather than self-driving without medical advice. Give responders your dive profile, computer, gas mix, symptoms, onset time and any first-aid oxygen already delivered.

Control buoyancy over rocky reefs and Posidonia seagrass. Do not anchor, stand, fin heavily or drag gear through meadows. Keep hands off octopus dens, nudibranchs, turtles and morays, and secure dangling gauges. Greek underwater antiquities are protected, including wrecks, aircraft, harbors, settlements and objects older than protected thresholds. Photograph, do not move. Use reef-safe sun protection, avoid feeding fish, collect trash when safe and report injured turtles to ARCHELON rather than attempting a rescue without guidance.