Every season a few of our guests arrive with diving on the agenda — sometimes certified, sometimes complete beginners curious about what’s underwater. Over the years we’ve mapped the dive sites within easy reach of each of our houses, and we’ve seen what guests come back raving about. Here’s the practical guide we hand them.
What You Get Underwater Here
The Ionian Sea around Corfu is exceptionally clear — visibility regularly 20–30 m, sometimes 40 on the best days. Water gets to 27 degrees in August. There are caves, walls, reefs, a couple of wrecks, and active marine protected areas where fish populations have rebounded. Greek diving is generally not as flashy as Red Sea or Caribbean, but Corfu has more variety and clearer water than many parts of the Mediterranean — and far fewer divers in the water.
1. Paleokastritsa Caves Intermediate
Depth: 8–25 m · Cave system
The most famous dive on the island and the one we tell certified guests not to miss. Multi-chamber limestone caves with sunlight filtering down, lobsters in the crevices, walls of orange sponges. A dive that gets remembered. Schools run from Paleokastritsa marina; book the day before.
2. Koloveris Reef Intermediate
Depth: 12–30 m · Northeast coast
The richest reef around Corfu. Schools of bream and damselfish, grouper, occasional barracuda. Off the northeast coast near Kassiopi — a quick boat ride from any northeast-based dive centre.
3. Erikoussa Island Wall Advanced
Depth: 5–40 m+ · Day trip
A full day-trip dive to the Diapontia Islands northwest of Corfu. The wall drops vertically into deep blue with gorgonian fans, sponges, soft corals. Visibility 30 m+. The most pristine diving in the Ionian. Only offered by a few centres; book a week ahead.
4. Agia Triada (Nissaki) Beginner
Depth: 5–18 m · Seagrass
Where most Discover Scuba experiences happen on the east coast. Calm, shallow, sloping rocky bottom with seagrass patches. Octopus, cuttlefish, occasionally seahorses. Perfect first dive.
5. Gouvia Bay Wreck Intermediate
Depth: 18–22 m · Wreck
A small cargo vessel upright on the sandy bottom of Gouvia Bay, decades of colonisation by marine life. Easy access, excellent introduction to wreck diving. Centres at Gouvia Marina run trips daily.
6. Agios Gordios Reef Beginner–Intermediate
Depth: 8–22 m · West coast
The west coast’s best site, off Agios Gordios beach. The famous Ortholithi sea-stack continues underwater into dramatic formations. Accessible as a shore dive or by boat. A good site if you’re basing on the west coast.
Starting From Zero
About a third of the diving guests we host have never dived before. Discover Scuba Diving experiences — available at most dive centres — require no certification or previous experience. A briefing, some shallow practice, then a supervised dive to 6–12 m in calm clear water. Cost: 55–80 euros. We’ve never had a guest regret it.
Hooked? A full PADI or SSI Open Water certification takes 3–4 days. 350–450 euros, four open-water dives included. You leave Corfu certified to dive anywhere in the world to 18 m.
Costs at a Glance
- Discover Scuba: 55–80 euros
- Single boat dive: 40–55 euros
- Two-tank boat dive: 60–90 euros
- Open Water course: 350–450 euros
- Erikoussa day trip: 130–180 euros
Diving Logistics for Guests
Season: June–September for warmest water; May and October for excellent visibility and quieter dives.
No-fly rule: Don’t fly within 18–24 hours of your last dive. Plan it for early in the trip, not the day before departure.
Bring: Certification card, logbook, personal mask. All other gear typically included.
Health: No alcohol the night before. Hydrate. Tell the centre about any medical conditions in advance.
Booking: A day ahead in summer; a week ahead for Erikoussa.
Camera: Most centres rent housings — the Paleokastritsa caves are worth the photos.
Getting To and From the Marinas
Most dive centres operate from marinas (Gouvia, Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi). You’ll want a car for the drive.
★ Herbie Cars — Delivered to the House
Our rental partner. Delivered to the house, free delivery, honest rates — the practical way to get to a dive site at 8 AM and home for lunch.
Book a car →★ Town Stay for the East Coast?
If most of your diving is east-coast (Gouvia wreck, Agia Triada), our partner Oikia 4 in the Old Town is closer to those marinas than most beach houses.
View beach houses →See also our snorkeling guide for the surface-level alternative, boat trips to Paxos, and the wider Corfu travel reference at CorfuRide.