Snorkelling in Paphos, Cyprus

[Carol]

I'm going to Paphos for a week for my niece's wedding.
I've been to the Dive websites and noted Dive sites where depths are given so that less than say, 10m, should be OK for snorkelling - unlike UK where I need to stick to less that 3m usually!
As usual, I'll find it difficult, if not impossible, to get a buddy without paying for it at a dive centre. I'll almost certainly go on a few trips with a dive company.
Any ideas from anyone?
The BSAC Dive Reports are very poor or non existent AFA this area is concerned.
Cheers
Carol

[Phil Mauer]

http://www.divepointcyprus.co.uk/

Try the above - call Flemming or Ray (the owner) they were very helpfull to me when i dived with them- I'm sure they will help you get some snorkelling in.

Phil

[Carol]

http://www.divepointcyprus.co.uk/

Try the above - call Flemming or Ray (the owner) they were very helpfull to me when i dived with them- I'm sure they will help you get some snorkelling in.

Phil

Hi Phil,
Thanks - that is one of the websites I've been looking at.
'Way back in 97 I dived with Cydive and I've contacted them already.
But its nice to think that Divepoint is on Tomb of Kings Road which is where we are staying.
Regards
Carol

[Adrian Kelland]

We stayed in Paphos aboyt 5 years ago. Personally I found the snorkelling very disappointing - very little life. However I'd still chuck the gear in a bag and give it a go.

Adrian

[Carol]

We stayed in Paphos aboyt 5 years ago. Personally I found the snorkelling very disappointing - very little life. However I'd still chuck the gear in a bag and give it a go.
Adrian

When I was diving there about 10 years ago, there was very little life.
We came up onto the RIB at one point glowing cos we'd seen a fish.
Next thing..... a guy on the boat donned his gear, backed into the water and came up again 2 mins later with the very fish we had seen on the end of a spear.
I was shocked.
No wonder there's no life!
Anyway, I'm used to seeing very little life snorkelling in West of Scotland!
Carol

[Carol]

No wonder nobody writes about snorkelling in Paphos! :rolleyes:
Cydive were very helpful (stored my gear when I went snorkelling on the rocks along the promenade) They take their try-divers in there.
Needless to say, I wanted to see where they went but once they disappeared underwater there was so much stour that I went my own way.
Water was never more than perhaps two metres deep and there were some small fish but nothing more interesting than an old tyre (I did explore it to see if an occy was hiding but no!)
Tried to book with them but the day they go to the Marine Gardens was the day of the wedding so I had to make do with another snorkelling trip.
Usual chaos - several kids in deep water off a boat at the Vera K wreck (c 12m) got scared, some of the adults not very happy either so, altho had been told to all stay together, I just went my own way as did a Greek lady on her own who had no English.
Next dive was at the Amphorae Caves (guide said) - near rocks with sandy patches. Nothing much here either.
Last day we were to be picked up from hotel at 20.30 so I went out on one of the big masted sail boats which advertised swimming and snorkelling.
When we got to Coral Bay I was the only person who went snorkelling - altho there were about 4 other boats there with hundreds of people but relatively few in the water - most singing, drinking and dancing on the boats. Most exciting thing seen there was a shoal of pipe fish.
Pity I didn't get to the Marine Gardens- but when you only have a week (long enough usually in Paphos, I think) and have to meet up with the rellies etc there isnt time be self indulgent about personal hobbies.
I would've written a report for Alison but when there is nothing positive to write I reckoned I should just leave it!
Carol

[frogbmth]

Thanks for sharing this, in my eyes reports of dissapointment are as valuable as great reports.
I would have still gone in to look too, I just like to get wet, but its a shame to come home without the glow you get from amazing snorkelling.

I'm sure lots of people going to Cyprus wonder about the snorkelling opportunities so again, well done for covering it here.

Onwards to the next excursion!

Andy

[jeannie]

We've just returned from Paphos. Snorkelling is quite sketchy. Lovely,warm water, and clear, but an acute shortage of life in most areas. don't bother with Petrou ton Romiou ( Aphrodite's birthplace)- nothing doing. We went on a scuba trip with Ray ( see previous post) He took us to St. Georges island off Latchi, in a glass bottom boat. Saw lots of small fish, cuttlefish, yellow kneed crab, young barracuda and what we think was a young moray. The scuba chaps saw grouper, barracuda, and turtles!
The find for us though, was the beach at St George's hotel, a mile or so north of Paphos. There is an artificial pool, which is sheltered from the waves. Although from the shore it just looks like a shallow swimming pool, in fact it is about 12 metres deep, and provides really good snorkelling, with an amazing amount of life. I found a comical line up of 6 cuttlefish, which were in formation, turned to me with their tentacles stretched out, and changed colour as I tried to approach! Went there 3 times in the week,as it was easy to access, with free parking.
Definitely worth taking gear, but don't expect miracles!

[Eddie Clamp]

We've just returned from Paphos. Snorkelling is quite sketchy. Lovely,warm water, and clear, but an acute shortage of life in most areas. don't bother with Petrou ton Romiou ( Aphrodite's birthplace)- nothing doing. We went on a scuba trip with Ray ( see previous post) He took us to St. Georges island off Latchi, in a glass bottom boat. Saw lots of small fish, cuttlefish, yellow kneed crab, young barracuda and what we think was a young moray. The scuba chaps saw grouper, barracuda, and turtles!
The find for us though, was the beach at St George's hotel, a mile or so north of Paphos. There is an artificial pool, which is sheltered from the waves. Although from the shore it just looks like a shallow swimming pool, in fact it is about 12 metres deep, and provides really good snorkelling, with an amazing amount of life. I found a comical line up of 6 cuttlefish, which were in formation, turned to me with their tentacles stretched out, and changed colour as I tried to approach! Went there 3 times in the week,as it was easy to access, with free parking.
Definitely worth taking gear, but don't expect miracles!

Hi Jeannie

This is good info :p Could you turn it into a shortish report, possibly with some photos (if you have them, surface photos would be ok) please? :)

Send report and photos separately please (if you are willing).

eddie.clamp@bsactravelclub.co.uk

Having lived in Cyprus 88-90 I know most of the places you mentioned :p

Many thanks

[mandarintree]

Yes this sounds so exciting! I would love to see some images of the journey. What an adventure. Cyprus sounds great.

[cris]

Polis diving and the Akamas peninuslar is brilliant for snorkelling......... it is a great spot but a little tricky to reach. Just go for about 1 mile along Akamas peninsulr (past Aphrodite pool) and it immedialtely noticeable.

[Eddie Clamp]

Polis diving and the Akamas peninuslar is brilliant for snorkelling......... it is a great spot but a little tricky to reach. Just go for about 1 mile along Akamas peninsulr (past Aphrodite pool) and it immedialtely noticeable.

Agree, have been there many times over the years. i used to do most of my snorkelling on the north coast what is now known as Girne.

Funnily enough I hope to return to Cyprus this September for an RN re-union :p.

While there I will be diving around Latchi where I spent many a happy hour diving 1988-90. Then to Dhekelia where i hope to dive with 120(S) and have a look at Cape Greco where I dived 1972-74 and again 88-90. Might even get to dive the Zenobia after all this time. Octopus Divers still going?

Intend a BSAC travel report comparing my diving there over the years :cool:

[davebarber]

Good snorkeling around Agious Gorgious harbour and the island.