The Stalis Diving Park was created by the company “Diving Parks of Crete” with the aim of promoting diving tourism in the region of Crete. It covers an area ofapproximately 22.5 acres, with a depth ranging from 17.7 to 21.5 metres. With funding from the Local CLLD LEADER Fisheries Programme (“Fisheries and the Sea”), 40 Artificial Reefs were placed in 7 clusters, creating 2 diving routes.
The innovation
The innovative aspect of the investment plan lies in the use of artificial reefs, which are the result of scientific research carried out by “ARIA-Maritime”, a spin-off company of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research.
These innovative reefs are concrete structures placed on the seabed, adapted to the environment and colonised by fish and other marine organisms. This creates an underwater oasis ready to be explored by diving enthusiasts.
Diving Parks of Crete
Efforts to promote diving tourism in Crete began in 2014 when the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce set up the NGO “Diving Parks of Crete“. The belief that Crete could become a diving destination for a large proportion of thematic tourism visitors was combined with the need to diversify the tourist services offered on the island. Following a protracted process to secure the necessary approvals, the Joint Ministerial Decree on the zoning of the park was published in December 2023. This was followed by the installation of the artificial reefs, which was completed in 2024.
The Stalis Diving Park is operated in collaboration with the diving centres in the area. Divers reach the park’s designated area by boat, off the village of Stalis (at the location commonly known as “Platia”). Each dive lasts between 40 and 60 minutes and takes place along two dive routes, each approximately 300–320 metres long. Another key innovation is the ability to reposition the reefs, thereby creating new routes that offer fresh points of interest.
The Stalis Diving Park is an example of entrepreneurship combines innovation with the protection of marine biodiversity. The underwater oasis created by the innovative reefs, combined with the fishing ban imposed by legislation within the diving parks, contributes to the restoration of marine flora and fauna. It has been proven that, within a short period of time, fish and other species that reproduce within the marine boundaries of the protected areas enrich the fish stocks of the adjacent areas – ultimately strengthening coastal fishing. The innovative nature of the project and the protection of the marine ecosystem, combined with the benefits to local businesses, led to the first the distinction of the Stalis Diving Park. It was recently included in the demonstration projects (“Success Stories”) of the European Union, as set out on the website of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE). This recognition confirms the uniqueness of the project, which was implemented with funding from the CLLD LEADER Fisheries Local Programme (OP “Fisheries and the Sea”) and the active support of the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce, under the supervision and in close cooperation with the Heraklion Development Agency. Of course, a very important factor in the project’s success was the cooperation between the local authorities, who were instrumental in its success.
Next steps – targets
The Stalis Diving Park is scheduled to be fully operational by summer of 2026, following a pilot phase that enabled the optimisation of routes and the creation of microhabitats, which are already home to raptors, bream, lionfish and many other species.
The next steps are as follows:
- strengthening the infrastructure with additional artificial reefs,
- creating an underwater exhibition space by sinking a shipwreck,
- monitoring the park’s operations by using new technologies,
- international promotion through specialist tourism exhibitions.
At the same time, work is being finalised on the site of a new Diving Park in the Mononaftis area, in Agia Pelagia, laying the foundations for the creation of a comprehensive network of Diving Parks in Crete — guided by smart specialisation and sustainable development.
Source: ibo.crete.gov.gr