Diver’s Club Crete

Located in Agia Pelagia, just 20 km west of Heraklion, Diver’s Club Crete has been a fixture of the Cretan diving scene since 1995. The centre is situated directly on the main beach, only five metres from the water's edge, making the transition from shore to sea seamless.

The centre operates from April through to early November, providing access to a variety of marine environments including reefs, caves, and significant wreck sites. Whether you are looking for a beach check dive or a deep wreck excursion, the setup is designed to handle both local exploration and offshore trips.

The centre is led by Dimitris Drakos, a highly qualified instructor holding PADI MSDT, SSI, CMAS 3-star, and advanced Nitrox instructor ratings from both IANTD and TDI. This level of expertise ensures that both recreational and technical training is handled with precision.

A multilingual team is available to assist you, speaking English, French, German, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Greek, Spanish, and Italian. This makes communicating dive plans and technical details straightforward, regardless of your native language.

A comprehensive range of training is offered through PADI, SSI, CMAS, IANTD, and TDI. Beginners can start with Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, or Junior Open Water Diver programmes.

For those looking to advance their skills, the centre provides Advanced Open Water Diver, Deep Diver, and Nitrox Diver courses. Specialty training is also available, including Underwater Navigation, Perfect Buoyancy, Search and Recovery, and Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) courses, as well as photography and video training.

Safety and rescue training is also a priority, with Stress & Rescue Diver and React Right-First Aid courses available.

The Petros-Iro is a cruising boat with a capacity for 16 divers. Powered by an IVECO AIFO inboard turbo-diesel engine, it is equipped with a mini-refrigerator, a cabin, and provides water, refreshments, and fruit during the trip.

The Nereida is a RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) designed for 12 divers, powered by a 300hp Yamaha engine. The Iro is a smaller outboard boat with a capacity of 9 divers, featuring a Mercury 150HP four-stroke engine.

All vessels facilitate various trip types, including morning and afternoon sessions for certified divers, as well as dedicated night dives. For those diving the Messerschmitt wreck, the boats provide refreshments and fruit to keep you energised.

The centre maintains a high standard of kit, using new equipment from Aqualung and Cressi. For those needing to hire, wetsuits, masks, snorkels, and fins are available.

On the compressor side, the centre uses COLTRI SUB and PARAMINA units to ensure air quality. They stock FABER steel cylinders in volumes of 6, 10, 12, and 15 litres, equipped with both DIN and INT valves. Nitrox is available for divers looking to extend their bottom time.

The marine life around Agia Pelagia is diverse, with many divers encountering groupers and moray eels near the wrecks and reefs. You can also find sea anemones, sponges, and small corals decorating the underwater landscape.

Macro life is a highlight for many, with frequent sightings of octopus, scorpionfish, starfish, and nudibranchs. For those with a keen eye, lobsters and various species of rockfish are often tucked into the crevices of the reef.

On the sandy sections and reef flats, you may encounter sea urchins and various small reef fish.

Diving is best experienced from April to the beginning of November. During this period, visibility typically ranges between 15 and 30 metres.

The Messerschmitt wreck site can occasionally experience strong currents and variable visibility, making it a site best suited for experienced divers.