Turtle Dive Center

Located on the shores of Limni Keriou on Zakynthos, Turtle Beach Dive Center has been a fixture of the local diving community since 1997. The centre is positioned directly on the beach, providing a seamless transition from the shore to the water. It serves as a hub for divers looking to explore the unique underwater topography of the Ionian Sea.

The centre provides a variety of diving experiences, from introductory courses to advanced training in cave and night diving. With a fleet of three boats and a range of dive sites including pinacles, walls, and extensive cave systems, you can tailor your itinerary to your certification level and interests.

The team is composed of six professional instructors capable of conducting training in multiple languages, including English, Greek, Italian, German, and Dutch. This multilingual approach ensures that technical briefings and educational sessions are clearly understood by a diverse range of divers.

Safety is managed through rigorous equipment checks and established emergency protocols. The centre maintains a high standard of professionalism, offering courses from beginner levels up to Divemaster, as well as specialised instructor training in freediving and offshore powerboating through ISSA.

The centre offers a comprehensive curriculum across PADI, SSI, and CMAS agencies. Beginners can start with the Open Water Diver course, while more advanced divers can progress through Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, and Divemaster certifications.

Specialised training is also available, including Nitrox courses, SSI Advanced Adventure Diver, and the SSI Stress & Rescue course. For those looking towards professional paths, the centre provides CMAS training up to the Gold level and instructor training programmes.

The primary vessel is a 12-metre dive boat with a capacity of 24 divers, designed to ensure comfort and space during trips. It is equipped with 30 cylinder supports, a diving platform with two ladders, a cabin for dry belongings, toilets, and 500 litres of freshwater for rinsing.

To accommodate different group sizes and dive profiles, the fleet also includes a 10-metre boat and a 7-metre boat. All vessels are equipped with essential safety gear, including life jackets, a life raft, GPS, and first aid kits, ensuring you are well-supported during excursions to the various reefs and caves around the island.

The shore base is designed for efficient post-dive logistics, featuring a dedicated equipment room with lockers and hanging space. There are two separate rinsing sinks—one specifically for regulators and computers, and another for larger items like BCDs and wetsuits. A dedicated support for dripping wet clothing is also available to keep the area organised.

For those using rental kit, the centre provides a full range of equipment including wetsuits, masks, fins, snorkels, BCDs, and regulators with integrated pressure gauges and depth gauges. The centre maintains its own compressor and prioritises the annual renewal of a significant portion of its rental stock to ensure reliability.

The marine life around Zakynthos is diverse, with many sightings of groupers, moray eels, and octopuses inhabiting the rocky crevices and walls. You can also find various species of wrasse, damselfish, and large schools of dorado and sea bream passing through the sites.

Macro life is abundant for those who look closely, particularly around the reefs and pinacles. Divers frequently encounter various nudibranchs, including the elegant dorid and flabellina, as well as scorpionfish and many species of crabs and lobsters.

During the season from May to October, you may encounter the Caretta Caretta sea turtle. The area is also known for sightings of the Monk Seal, particularly within the larger cave systems and sheltered areas.

The diving season is best experienced from May to October. During this period, the area offers varied underwater landscapes, from shallow bays to deeper walls and canyons.

Some sites, such as Alati, can experience moderate currents depending on the conditions, while others like Barakuda are known for having relatively low current. The topography often includes significant overhangs and cave entrances that require careful navigation.