Diving Center Atlantis

Founded in 1993 by Giorgos Gioumpakis, Atlantis Diving Center has been a fixture of the Cretan diving scene for over three decades. The centre operates from two strategic locations in Rethymno: the Rithymna Beach Hotel in Adelianos Campos and the Club Marine Palace in Panormo.

Whether you are looking to begin your journey with a Discover Scuba Diving session or are pursuing professional development, the centre focuses on small groups and individual attention. This approach ensures that safety and personalised guidance remain the priority for every diver, from children in the hotel pool to advanced technical divers.

The centre is led by Giorgos Gioumpakis, a PADI IDC Staff Instructor with more than 37 years of experience in the Cretan underwater world. His deep knowledge of the local coastline has led to the discovery of many of the region's best dive sites.

The team is multilingual, with staff able to communicate in Greek, English, German, French, Czech, and Italian. This makes navigating course materials and dive briefings straightforward for an international range of divers.

Atlantis is particularly well-suited for families, offering dedicated children's programmes. For those staying in hotels outside the immediate vicinity, the team organises a free shuttle service to ensure easy access to the dive centres.

Atlantis offers a comprehensive range of PADI courses, catering to every stage of a diver's progression. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving, the PADI Scuba Diver Course, or the PADI Open Water Diver Course.

For those looking to advance their skills, the centre provides the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, Deep Diver, and Boat Diver courses. Specialist training is also available, including Nitrox Diver, Night Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Navigator, and Search and Recovery.

Beyond traditional scuba, the centre is a hub for Freediving, offering both PADI Freediver and PADI Advanced Freediver courses. Professional pathways are also supported, including Divemaster and Assistant Instructor training.

The centre operates a 9-metre polyester boat powered by a 225 h.p. Mercury four-stroke engine. This vessel is designed to carry up to 10 divers for excursions along the coast.

Nitrox is available on board, allowing for extended bottom times during your trips. The boat provides access to various sites ranging from the sheltered reefs of Bali to the deeper canyons of the south coast.

The shore-based facilities are well-equipped to support both recreational and technical diving. The centre utilises two Aiolus Paramina compressors, each with a capacity of 400 litres per minute, to ensure reliable gas supply.

For those requiring rental kit, a full range of equipment is available, including 5 mm Waterproof wetsuits and TUSA buoyancy control devices. The regulator selection includes Aqualung Calypso and TUSA RS1000 models. The cylinder inventory is extensive, providing 5, 6, 10, 12, and 15-litre steel cylinders in both DIN and INT configurations.

The Mediterranean marine life here is diverse, particularly around the canyons and reefs. You can expect to encounter groupers, moray eels, lionfish, and large barracuda patrolling the areas. The rocky structures and crevices are also home to octopus, cuttlefish, and various species of sponge.

Macro life enthusiasts will find plenty to observe, including nudibranchs, spiny lobster, and crayfish. It is common to spot various types of crabs and hermit crabs amongst the reef rubble.

On the sandy patches and near the reef edges, you may also see brown stingrays and various species of sea urchins. The biodiversity is supported by a healthy ecosystem of sponges and colourful Mediterranean marine life.

The diving environment varies significantly between the north and south coasts. The north coast, particularly around Bali, offers sheltered conditions that are well-protected from swell and wind, making it suitable for shallower, calmer dives.

The south coast at Shinaria presents a different profile, with deeper slopes and canyon systems that can experience different current patterns compared to the northern sheltered bays.