Saranda and Ksamil

• Choose licensed operators that carry oxygen, brief surface procedures, and make conservative site calls.
• Stay within training, especially on wrecks and on any site exposed to chop or surge.
• Use an SMB for scuba and a bright buoy for freedive or snorkel sessions away from the beach.
• Expect the easiest recreational conditions from late spring to early autumn, not in mid-winter.
• Do not solo freedive, and do not assume busy beach zones are safe for unsupported swims to deeper water.

For ordinary illness or injury, Saranda has town medical support, but serious dive incidents should be approached as an emergency that may require coordination beyond the immediate resort area. Carry dive insurance, save the local emergency numbers before the trip, and contact DAN Europe immediately if decompression illness is suspected. Because there is no widely published recompression facility in Saranda or Ksamil, evacuation planning matters more here than in classic chamber-based dive hubs.

• Butrint National Park protects wetland, lagoon, and coastal habitats used by species including sea turtles and dolphins.
• Keep wildlife encounters passive. Do not chase, feed, or corner animals for photos.
• Maintain good fin control over seagrass and reef structure.
• Do not remove artifacts, pottery, or wreck material. UNESCO guidance for underwater cultural heritage emphasizes preservation in situ.
• Prefer operators that use careful mooring and route planning rather than careless anchoring in sensitive areas.