Part of the Cyclades Island Group, Paros lies in the central Aegean Sea, about 100 nautical miles from Piraeus, and just about 8 kilometers west of Naxos. The source of some of the beautiful white marble you'll see all around the Mediterranean region, it is today a popular tourist destination that offers lovely beaches, plenty of cultural attractions, and some outstanding diving. Here are five of the best sites surrounding Paros.
Saint Spiridon Reef and Cavern – Paros Dive Sites
An outstanding pair of sites with depths between 5 and 18 meters, Saint Spiridon features a massive cavern filled with colorful corals and sea urchins, sea stars, and nudibranchs, as well as fish, octopus, moray eels, and other marine life. After exiting the first cavern, you have the option of exploring a second cavern, or heading to the northern portion of the reef where a labyrinth of rocks shelters large groupers and other fish.
Silent Reef – Paros Dive Sites
Featuring maximum depth at 18 meters, Silent Reef is the site of an archaeological treasure trove that includes not only ancient anchors and amphorae scattered across the bottom, but a lovely reef where small groupers, large lobsters, cockles, and all sorts of wrasse and anthia can be found. Remember that all items of archaeological interest must remain on site; no collecting is allowed.
Blue Dome – Paros Dive Sites
Also known as Paros' Secret Cave Dive, Blue Dome is accessed via a hole in the adjoining reef, at a depth of 8 meters. After entering, you'll find a larger hole that allows plenty of natural light to enter, and once inside the dome itself, you'll be able to surface. Fed by fresh air from above, the Blue Dome features stunning stalactites hanging from its ceiling, and incredibly, there are small tuna fish inside the cave, along with some black and white sea urchins, lobsters, shrimp, and other creatures. Maximum depth is 15 meters. Back outside, along the reef, you'll find even more colorful marine life to keep you entertained; watch for the groupers and octopus that hide among the rocks.
Blue Wall – Paros Dive Sites
Offering a shallow wall dive and a deep wall dive, the Blue Wall begins around 5 meters and is pocked with lots of holes that act as a sort of condominium for lobsters, moray eels, groupers, and shrimp; even if you must stop at 25 meters rather than continue with the deep dive, you'll be able to see the bigger groupers where they like to hang in the water at a depth of 40 meters. Covered in corals and sponges, the wall is an outstanding site for photography; there's so much to see here you might want to do this dive at least twice.
The Doors – Paros Dive Sites
With an abundance of anthia and other small fish, plus plenty of crustaceans and invertebrates, this site features a pair of rocks that rise from the seabed 40 meters below to break the surface and thrust skyward to a height of about 15 meters. The Doors can be circumnavigated, and while some divers do head all the way down to the sea floor, most enjoy the abundant life which seems to be at its best at depths between 25 and 35 meters. Watch for small tuna and bass passing in the blue, and enjoy the opportunity to capture colorful images of all the amazing creatures you'll find here.
Offering a wealth of historic sites topside and crystal clear water that offers exceptional visibility at all dive sites, Paros is an outstanding place to enjoy sun and sand, plus the marvelous hospitality and cuisine Greece is renowned for. Whether you stay for a week or a month, you'll find yourself wishing you could extend your vacation; once you're back home, don't be surprised if your daydreams involve diving at Paros.