FAQs · Destination Guide
Ionian caves, turtle beaches, and easy day-boat diving
Updated Apr 26, 2026 • 23 sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers sourced from research and local operating patterns.
The easiest scuba window is June to October, with September the best single-month pick for many divers. By September the sea is still warm, operators are active, and the July-August crowd pressure drops. June to August has excellent schedules and dry weather, but book morning boats early. May can work for training and selected sites, while November to March is mainly local or by-arrangement diving because weather, water temperature, and operator availability become less reliable.
Book a guided boat dive from Keri, Agios Sostis, Laganas, or a resort-based operator that regularly visits Keri Caves. Most itineraries use morning departures because wind, boat traffic, and surface chop can build later. Keri routes can include shallow cave mouths, blue-light caverns, walls, and swim-throughs, so tell the operator your certification, recent dive history, and comfort with overhead-adjacent spaces. Bring a torch if requested and do not enter any cavern beyond your training or guide's briefing.
You can snorkel in turtle habitat, especially around Laganas Bay and Marathonisi, but you should frame it as turtle observation, not swimming with turtles. Choose operators that brief the National Marine Park rules, maintain distance, and avoid chasing or blocking surfacing turtles. If a turtle appears near you, stay calm, keep space, and let it decide where to go. Never touch, feed, follow, dive down onto, or crowd a turtle with multiple swimmers.
Yes, Zakynthos is very suitable for beginner divers when conditions are calm and you use a reputable instructor. Operators run try dives, Open Water courses, refreshers, and shallow guided dives around Marathonisi, Keri, and protected south-coast reefs. Many sites sit between 6 m and 18 m for training-style profiles. Beginners should avoid demanding cave routes until skills are solid, and should ask about group size, instructor supervision, oxygen, and marine park etiquette before booking.
Loggerhead turtles arrive in Laganas Bay in spring and nesting runs mainly from mid-May to late August, with hatchlings emerging mostly from July into October. Important nesting beaches include Marathonisi, East Laganas, Kalamaki, Daphni, and Gerakas. During this period, visitors must respect daytime access hours, stay out of restricted nest and dune areas, avoid dogs and vehicles, and never disturb hatchlings. Night beach access and artificial light are especially harmful because hatchlings use natural light cues to reach the sea.
There is no widely published visitor tag like some dedicated dive destinations use, but the National Marine Park rules still apply. Divers, snorkelers, paddlers, swimmers, and boat guests must follow zone restrictions, turtle observation rules, speed limits, anchoring and mooring limits, beach-hour rules, and fishing or watersport bans where applicable. The practical move is to book with operators that understand the park and can explain current rules before departure. Lack of a separate fee is not permission to improvise.
Water is coolest in late winter and early spring, often around 15°C to 18°C, then warms through May and June. July to September is the comfortable high season, commonly around 23°C to 27°C, with September still warm after summer heat. October can remain pleasant, especially for scuba with a wetsuit. Most divers use 3mm in summer and 5mm in shoulder months, while freedivers often prefer more warmth for repeated line sessions.
Most dive travelers fly into Zakynthos Airport (ZTH), then transfer by taxi, rental car, or pre-booked shuttle to Keri, Agios Sostis, Laganas, Kalamaki, or Zakynthos Town. Keri and Agios Sostis are most convenient for Keri Caves and Marathonisi dive mornings. Travelers driving from mainland Greece usually use the Kyllini to Zakynthos ferry, which takes about 1 hour 15 minutes. Rent a car if you want to combine diving with Blue Caves, Porto Limnionas, wineries, and sunset viewpoints.
Navagio access has changed repeatedly because of cliff instability, landslide risk, and official safety decisions, so treat it as a flexible viewpoint or boat-viewing goal, not a guaranteed beach day. Before going, check current local authority rules and your boat operator's latest guidance. Do not rely on old photos or social posts showing people on the sand. If access is restricted, respect barriers and do not attempt unofficial cliff paths or landings for photos.
Stay near Keri or Agios Sostis if diving and Keri Caves access are the top priority. Kalamaki and Laganas are convenient for marine park beaches, turtle-aware boat trips, nightlife, and resort facilities, but can be busier. Zakynthos Town works well for restaurants, culture, airport access, and mixed groups that do not mind morning transfers. Tsilivi and Vasilikos suit beach-focused non-divers. For the best mixed itinerary, choose a base with easy morning water logistics and rent a car for viewpoints.
No. Zakynthos is best planned as a land-based destination using local dive centers, freedive schools, shore-cove swims, and day boats. The signature experiences are Keri Caves, Marathonisi, south-coast reefs, turtle-aware snorkeling, and cliff or cave boat trips, all of which fit local operator schedules. Liveaboards may exist elsewhere in Greece or the wider Mediterranean, but they are not the normal way travelers experience Zakynthos. Book accommodation, morning boat dives, and local transport rather than a cabin-based itinerary.
Freedivers should train with a qualified instructor or experienced buddy, especially around Keri, Lithakia, cave mouths, and boat routes. September is the standout month because water is warm and crowds ease, but June to August also works with early starts. Use a buoy, flag, line, and surface support, and keep sessions conservative in heat. Never solo freedive, never enter overhead spaces without proper training and supervision, and avoid disturbing turtles or entering restricted marine park activity zones.