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Scuba Diving in Corfu

Open Water course
€450

Updated July 2026

Good to know

Good to Know

  • You do not need to book a liveaboard for Corfu — nearly all the well-known sites are reached by day boats from centres in Kassiopi, Kalami, or Paleokastritsa, or by a single-day excursion boat to Paxos or Othonoi.
  • The furthest-flung named sites (Othonoi Island wrecks, Paxos caves and wrecks) require a longer boat crossing and calm sea conditions, so they're often weather-dependent add-on days rather than guaranteed daily options — build flexibility into your schedule if these are a priority.
  • Many of the deeper wreck and cave sites (Anchor Wreck, Old Father Wreck, Angelos Cave, Calypso Deep) call for Advanced Open Water certification or specific specialty training — check requirements with the dive centre before booking if you're not already Advanced-certified.
  • Depth figures for the same site sometimes vary slightly between sources (e.g. the Theodoros Wreck is cited as anywhere from 15-18m to its top) — treat published depths as approximate and confirm with your dive operator's briefing.
  • The PADI Open Water Diver course (full certification) starts from around €450, with a shorter, limited 'PADI Scuba Diver' certification available from around €320 if you're short on time — and a no-certification-needed trial dive (Discover Scuba Diving) from around €99 if you just want to try it once.
  • PADI is the most common certifying body, but SSI, CMAS, and a few others (ANDI, IANTD, TDI) also show up across different shops, so ask which agency a shop teaches before booking if you want your card to match a system you already use.
  • Most dive centers are based in coastal resort villages (e.g. Paleokastritsa, Kassiopi, Dassia, Nissaki, Ermones, Agios Gordis) rather than in Corfu Town itself, so factor in a drive or transfer from the town center.
  • If freediving specifically is your goal, Corfu's dive scene is scuba-first — we could not confirm any operator here running dedicated freediving certification courses, so you may need to look elsewhere in Greece for that.

Typical Course Pricing

  • Discover Scuba Diving (trial dive, no certification)
    Price
    €99
    Note
    per session, entry-level trial offered by multiple operators
  • PADI Scuba Diver Course (limited certification, ~2 dives)
    Price
    €320
    Note
    starting price seen at one operator; shorter/cheaper alternative to full Open Water
  • PADI Open Water Diver Course (full certification, ~4 dives)
    Price
    €450
    Note
    starting price seen at one operator; typically includes eLearning, pool/confined-water skills, and open-water dives

Operator Density

Geographic Spread
Operators are spread around the coastline rather than clustered in Corfu Town itself — the north (Kassiopi, Nissaki, Barbati, Acharavi), west (Paleokastritsa, Ermones), and south/east (Agios Gordis, Agios Ioannis Peristeron, Dassia) coasts each have their own dive base.
Approximate Named Operator Count
roughly a dozen or more named, currently-operating dive centers island-wide

Named Operators Found

  • Achilleon Diving Center (Paleokastritsa, with an Ermones branch)
  • Corfu Dive Club (based near Corfu Town/Paleokastritsa area)
  • Sea World Corfu (Dassia — Ikos Dassia Resort)
  • Apollo Diving Center (Nissaki/Barbati)
  • Corfu Divers (Kassiopi)
  • Calypso Diving Center (Agios Gordis)
  • Seven Islands Dive Center
  • Dive Easy
  • Poseidon Diving Center (Ermones)
  • Corfu Dive Center / Scuba in Corfu (Ermones/Paleokastritsa area, SSI-affiliated)
  • Poseidonia Dive Center (Agios Ioannis Peristeron, east coast)
  • a diving team based in Acharavi (north coast)

Near Shore Day Boat Sites

  • Kassiopi Reef
    Area
    Kassiopi, northeast coast
    Type
    reef
    Access
    Short boat ride from Kassiopi-based dive centres
    Depth Visibility
    Shallow, warm water close to shore
    Marine Life And Features
    Rocky formations whose sides are covered with delicate red corals and red stone weeds, with shallow warm water good for closely observing Ionian marine life.
    Notes
    One of the reefs most consistently named across Corfu diving guides.
  • Kalami Reef
    Area
    Kalami, northeast coast
    Type
    reef
    Access
    Short boat ride from northeast coast dive centres
    Marine Life And Features
    Named repeatedly alongside Kassiopi Reef and Pipitos Reef as one of the seabed's several impressive reefs; forms part of the core northeast-coast reef cluster.
    Notes
    Often paired on the same trip as Nissaki Wall given proximity.
  • Nissaki Wall
    Area
    Nissaki, northeast coast
    Type
    wall
    Access
    Short boat ride from Kalami/Kassiopi area
    Depth Visibility
    Starts on a plateau around 5m before an unexpected drop to a small wreck at roughly 32m.
    Marine Life And Features
    A favoured spot for underwater photographers thanks to the dramatic depth change and small wreck at the base of the wall.
    Notes
    One of the more distinctive topographic dives on the island.
  • Pipitos Reef
    Area
    Corfu coastline (northeast cluster)
    Type
    reef
    Access
    Short boat ride
    Marine Life And Features
    Named among the seabed's several impressive reefs alongside Kassiopi and Kalami Reefs.
    Notes
    Frequently listed but with less independent site detail than Kassiopi/Kalami.
  • Akoli Reef
    Area
    Corfu coastline
    Type
    reef
    Access
    Short boat ride
    Notes
    Named as one of the island's interesting diving areas; limited independently-verified depth/marine-life detail beyond being grouped with the other reef sites.
  • Colovri
    Area
    Offshore islet near Corfu
    Type
    reef / small island dive
    Access
    Short boat ride; described as Corfu's most popular dive site
    Depth Visibility
    Experienced divers can go to around 40m; beginners have plenty to explore at just a few metres.
    Marine Life And Features
    Surrounded by crevices, boulders, cliffs, reefs, canyons and caves; species seen include barracuda, shrimp, moray eels and anthias. One notable feature is an artificial reef created from old cars and scrap metal.
    Notes
    Considered suitable for all experience levels due to varied depth profile.
  • Monastery
    Area
    About 100m off the Corfu coast, near the Monastery of Pantokrator
    Type
    cave/reef
    Access
    Very short boat ride
    Depth Visibility
    Visibility clear to around 20m; two caves — one at roughly 3-5m suitable for beginners, a deeper one around 22m.
    Marine Life And Features
    Home to octopus, shrimp, crayfish, blue comber and other reef fish, viewed through an entrance arch and a tunnel roughly 10m long.
    Notes
    One of the most consistently recommended sites for marine-life spotting rather than wreck/wall diving.
  • Ulysses Rock
    Area
    Opposite the beach of Agios Stefanos Avliotes, northwest coast
    Type
    rock/reef formation
    Access
    Short boat ride from northwest-coast operators
    Notes
    Described as an awe-inspiring rock-formation dive; limited additional depth/species detail available.
  • Calypso Deep
    Area
    Corfu coastline
    Type
    wall/drop-off
    Access
    Short boat ride
    Marine Life And Features
    Steep drop-offs, caves and tunnels; divers may spot schools of fish, octopuses and the occasional stingray.
    Notes
    Rated as a site for advanced divers given the depth and terrain.
  • Irene Wreck
    Area
    Off the Corfu coast
    Type
    wreck
    Access
    Short boat ride
    Depth Visibility
    Wreck sits at approximately 30m.
    Marine Life And Features
    A cargo ship that sank in the 1980s, now home to groupers, moray eels and sponges.
    Notes
    Rated suitable for intermediate to advanced divers.
  • Anchor Wreck (WWI Steamer)
    Area
    Corfu coastline, roughly 50 minutes by boat from a northern dive centre
    Type
    wreck
    Access
    Longer day-boat run from a Corfu dive centre (not shore-accessible)
    Depth Visibility
    Wreck depth around 26m with a maximum depth of about 32m; visibility over 20m with no current.
    Marine Life And Features
    A large anchor and chain remain from a steamer lost during the First World War, plus a pair of nearby caves; outstanding marine life reported at the site.
    Notes
    Requires Advanced Open Water / Wreck Diver specialty certification per the operating dive centre.
  • Neptune's Hole (Cavern)
    Area
    Corfu coastline, about 20 minutes from a dive centre
    Type
    cavern
    Access
    Short-to-moderate boat ride
    Depth Visibility
    Around 8m depth, visibility over 20m, no current.
    Marine Life And Features
    A series of chambers connected to each other, decorated with stalactites.
    Notes
    Suitable for Open Water certified divers and even snorkellers given the shallow depth.

Day Trip Boat Sites Further Islands

  • SS Sara Wreck, Othonoi Island
    Area
    Fyki Bay, north of Othonoi Island, roughly 50 minutes by boat from Corfu
    Type
    wreck
    Access
    Day-boat excursion required (Othonoi is a separate island northwest of Corfu); not shore accessible
    Depth Visibility
    Sits at around 32m depth in sparkling, superb-visibility water.
    Marine Life And Features
    An Italian steamship that sank in 1925.
    Notes
    Rated for experienced/advanced divers given the depth.
  • Theodoros Wreck, Othonoi Island
    Area
    Othonoi Island, near Fyki Bay
    Type
    wreck
    Access
    Same day-boat excursion as SS Sara
    Depth Visibility
    Sources vary between roughly 15m and 18m to the top of the wreck.
    Marine Life And Features
    An immense shipwreck now functioning as an artificial reef, entirely covered in corals and vegetation and surrounded by schools of fish; unlike many wreck sites it can be penetrated, including the engine room.
    Notes
    Described as suitable for both beginners and experienced wreck divers, unusual for a penetrable wreck.
  • Blue Caves / Blue Grotto, Paxos
    Area
    Paxos, a boat ride from Corfu Town
    Type
    cave
    Access
    Day-boat excursion to Paxos required
    Depth Visibility
    Around 25m depth with excellent visibility.
    Marine Life And Features
    Known primarily for dramatic scenery and clear water rather than dense marine life.
    Notes
    Only certified divers are permitted to dive this site; popular with snorkel/boat tours too, so can be busy at peak hours.
  • Angelos Cave, Paxos
    Area
    Paxos
    Type
    cave
    Access
    Day-boat excursion to Paxos required
    Depth Visibility
    Roughly 30m depth, generally low current.
    Marine Life And Features
    A large cave system lit by sunlight from above; monk seals are sometimes reported here along with other cave-dwelling species.
    Notes
    Recommended for experienced divers only given the depth and cave environment.
  • Cathedral Cave, Paxos
    Area
    West coast of Paxos
    Type
    cave
    Access
    Day-boat excursion to Paxos required
    Marine Life And Features
    A large, dark cave with a ceiling decorated with yellow cup corals, plus starfish, sea squirts, shrimps, slipper lobsters and hermit crabs; divers pass through a halocline where fresh cliff water meets the sea.
    Notes
    Named for its cathedral-like scale.
  • Old Father Wreck, Paxos
    Area
    Paxos
    Type
    wreck
    Access
    Day-boat excursion to Paxos required
    Depth Visibility
    Accessible wreck sections lie around 30m (a broken-off section now lies at 70m, beyond recreational limits); visibility typically 20-30m.
    Marine Life And Features
    Sank in bad weather in 1992 while carrying metal tubes, now scattered across the seabed; approached via a rocky underwater arch rich in scorpionfish, with moray eels, tube worms, fish shoals and lionfish now present.
    Notes
    A significant portion of the wreck is now out of recreational reach following storm damage.
  • Italian WWII Fighter Plane Wreck, Paxos
    Area
    Paxos
    Type
    wreck (aircraft)
    Access
    Day-boat excursion to Paxos required
    Depth Visibility
    Remains lie at just over 30m.
    Marine Life And Features
    Home to shoals of cardinalfish-type fish, and a moray eel is sometimes seen inside the engine.
    Notes
    One of the few aircraft wreck dives in the region.
  • Small Boat Wreck (2022), Paxos
    Area
    Paxos
    Type
    wreck
    Access
    Day-boat excursion to Paxos required
    Depth Visibility
    Maximum depth of about 17m.
    Marine Life And Features
    A small vessel that sank in bad weather in 2022; already attracting lionfish and the occasional octopus around its periphery.
    Notes
    Suitable for less experienced divers given the shallow depth.
  • Sunshine Cave, Paxos
    Area
    Paxos
    Type
    cave
    Access
    Day-boat excursion to Paxos required
    Depth Visibility
    Maximum depth of about 20m.
    Marine Life And Features
    Named for a shaft of sunlight falling through a hole in the cave ceiling.
    Notes
    Often combined with Cathedral Cave and the wreck dives on the same Paxos boat day.

Best Season

Diving season runs roughly May to September/October. Summer (June-August) brings the warmest water and best visibility conditions, while May, September and October are still diveable with cooler water and slightly reduced but still good visibility.

Accessibility Overview

Diving around Corfu is genuinely day-boat and shore-accessible, not liveaboard territory. Most named sites sit close to established dive centres on the northeast coast (Kassiopi, Kalami/Nissaki) and around Paleokastritsa on the west coast, reachable by short boat rides. A smaller set of the best-regarded sites (Paxos, Othonoi Island, the Diapontia Islands) require a longer day-boat crossing rather than shore entry, but these are still run as single-day excursions from Corfu-based operators, not overnight liveaboard trips.

Certifying Bodies Present

Certifying Bodies Present

  • PADI (dominant — present at most operators, including one PADI Five Star Instructor Development Dive Resort)
  • SSI (Scuba Schools International)
  • CMAS
  • ANDI
  • IANTD
  • TDI
  • BSAC (referenced by some operators/guides)

Certification Levels Commonly Offered

Summary
PADI is the most widely offered system, with a clear pipeline from complete beginner through professional level available on the island, though not every single shop offers every level.
Entry Level
Discover Scuba Diving (no certification, single guided trial dive/session) and PADI Scuba Diver (limited certification, shorter course) are both commonly offered.
Core Certification
PADI Open Water Diver — the standard first full certification — is offered by multiple operators.
Professional Level
Sea World Corfu (Dassia) is a PADI Five Star Instructor Development Dive Resort, meaning it runs PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDC) — i.e. Corfu has at least one operator offering training up to and including PADI Scuba Instructor level, not just Divemaster.
Continuing Education
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, and Divemaster are listed as available course offerings at operators such as Achilleon Diving Center and Corfu Divers.

Freediving Crossover

Found
No
Detail
Search did not turn up dedicated freediving courses or freediving-specific programming at Corfu's scuba operators — the listed shops focus on scuba certification, guided scuba dives, and separate snorkeling trips/equipment rental. No operator was found explicitly marketing freediving (AIDA/SSI Freediving/Molchanovs-style) courses, so this cannot be confirmed as a genuine crossover here.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

This section has no cited sources.

More About Corfu

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.