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 occupies an area of approximately 22.5 acres with a depth ranging from 17.7 to 21.5 meters. With funding from the Local CLLD LEADER Fisheries Program (“Fisheries and the Sea”), 40 Artificial Reefs were placed in 7 clusters, creating 2 diving routes.
The innovation
The innovation of the investment plan is based on the use of Artificial Reefs, which are the product of scientific research by the spin-off company of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research “ARIA-Maritime”.
The innovative reefs are concrete structures placed on the seabed, adapted to the environment and colonized by fish and other marine organisms. This creates an underwater oasis ready to be explored by diving enthusiasts.
Diving Parks of Crete
The effort to promote diving tourism in Crete began in 2014 when the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce established the NGO “Diving Parks of Crete“. The belief that Crete can be a diving destination for a large portion of thematic tourism visitors was combined with the need to diversify the tourist services offered on the island. After a tortuous process to obtain the necessary approvals, the Joint Ministerial Decree for the zoning of the park was published in December 2023. This was followed by the process of setting up the artificial reefs, which was completed in 2024.
The operation of the Stalis Diving Park is carried out in collaboration with the diving centers in the area. Divers approach the demarcated area of the park by boat, off the settlement of Stalis (at the location widely known as “Platia”). The duration of each dive ranges from 40 to 60 minutes and takes place in two diving routes, approximately 300 – 320 meters long. Another important element of innovation is the ability to move the reefs, so as to create new routes with renewed interest.
The Stalis Diving Park is an example of where entrepreneurship meets innovation and the protection of marine biodiversity. The underwater oasis created by the innovative reefs in combination with the fishing ban imposed by the legislation in 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 protection, enrich the fish stocks of the adjacent areas – ultimately strengthening coastal fishing. The characteristics of innovation and the protection of the marine ecosystem, combined with the benefits to local entrepreneurship, led to the first distinction of the Stalis Diving Park. It was recently included in the demonstration projects (“Success Stories”) of the European Union, as they are presented on the website of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE). This distinction comes to confirm the uniqueness of the project that 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, with the supervision and close cooperation of the Heraklion Development Agency. Of course, a very important factor in the success of the project was the cooperation between the local bodies who conceived the success of the project.
Next steps-targets
The full operation of the Stalis Diving Park is planned for the summer of 2026, after a pilot operation period that allowed the optimization of the routes and the creation of microhabitats, which already host raptors, bream, lionfish and many other species.
The next steps include:
- strengthening the infrastructure with additional artificial reefs,
- creating an underwater exhibition space by sinking a shipwreck,
- monitoring the operation of the park by utilizing new technologies,
- international promotion through specialized tourist exhibitions.
At the same time, the location of a new Diving Park in the Mononaftis area, in Agia Pelagia, is being completed, laying the foundations for the creation of a comprehensive network of Diving Parks in Crete — guided by smart specialization and sustainable development.
Source: ibo.crete.gov.gr