Keadivers

Keadivers is situated on the island of Kea, one of the most beautiful islands in the Cyclades. The island has become a premier destination for divers due to the Kea Underwater Historical Site (KUHS), which features a collection of significant wrecks including the Britannic, the Burdigala, and the Patris.

The centre operates from two bases to ensure the best possible conditions. The primary base is located near the picturesque port of Vourkari, while a secondary base is positioned on Koundouraki beach, offering a sheltered option when northern winds are present. Access to the island is straightforward via a 70-minute ferry from the port of Lavrio, near Athens.

The centre is led by owner Yannis Tzavelakos, a highly qualified PADI instructor with expertise in OC Trimix, CCR 100, and Tec 40 Trimix. He is joined by experienced PADI instructors Stelios Berketis and Tassos Papapanos, ensuring a high standard of instruction across all disciplines.

Safety is the cornerstone of the operation. Keadivers is insured by DAN Europe, and all equipment undergoes annual certification by Bureau Veritas. The staff are also trained in first aid and EFR through the Red Cross, and the centre maintains strict adherence to PADI standards.

Keadivers offers a comprehensive range of PADI courses, catering to every stage of a diver's development. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving, Bubblemaker, or the Open Water Diver course, while more experienced divers can progress through Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and Divemaster levels.

The centre is a significant hub for technical training. They provide a full suite of Tec courses, including Tec Basics, Tec 40, 45, and 50 Trimix, as well as full Trimix Diver certifications. For those moving into closed-circuit rebreather diving, they offer Tec 40, 60, and 100 CCR programmes.

The centre utilises a fleet of four RIB boats for dive trips and excursions. These vessels are powered by reliable Yamaha and Mercury engines, including 250 hp and 300 hp models, ensuring efficient transit to offshore sites like Spanopoula Rock or the deeper wrecks.

Each boat has a capacity of 8 to 10 persons and is equipped with sun covers and medical kits. For safety, 100% breathable oxygen is carried on board every vessel. The RIBs allow for quick transfers to isolated beaches and archaeological sites for snorkellers as well.

On-site, the centre is well-equipped for both recreational and technical divers. They utilise Coltri and Bauer compressors to manage cylinder fills, and a Nardi TTMix-Pro mixer is available for producing Nitrox and Trimix blends.

Full rental kit is available for those not travelling with their own equipment. The centre stocks brands such as Oceanic, Hollis, Aqualung, Apeks, Mares, Cressi, and Tecline. Dive computers can also be hired for a small daily fee.

The underwater landscape of Kea is diverse, ranging from deep walls to cavernous rock formations. At sites like Ksyla bay and Mavrabeli cape, you will find healthy reefs teeming with various fish species inhabiting the rocky structures.

In the open water around Spanopoula Rock, the presence of large pelagics such as tuna and swordfish adds a sense of scale to the diving experience. The deeper wrecks and walls also provide a habitat for a variety of Mediterranean fish populations.

Macro life and smaller inhabitants can be found throughout the various caves and swim-throughs, particularly in the Castriani cavern and the rock formations of Platys Yalos bay.

Diving in Kea is subject to local weather patterns, particularly the northern winds. The centre's dual-base setup is designed to mitigate this, with the Koundouraki base providing a sheltered alternative when conditions at Vourkari are less favourable.

While much of the area experiences no significant currents, certain sites require caution. The Koundouros reef, the Britannic, the Burdigala, and the Junkers 52 can all be subject to strong currents, which is an important consideration for technical and advanced divers.