Porto Koufo Wall

Reviews (1)

Тim June 13th, 2021 - 18:10:

The Wall of Porto Koufo is quite an impressive place to dive. We have visited the place right after quite intense raining, so the water by the beach has been awful due to some washed off stuff (it was almost sweet, somewhat sticky and your own hand could be hardly seen by 2 meters at the surface). We stayed at the far left side, at the very end of the sand stripe. Regardless of poor visual conditions, there were some young guys, spearing fish in a rather unsafe manner, so I had to cross the bay from our place to approach the wall (keep in mind the significant traffic throughout the strait). Otherwise it is much recommended to start your swim from the most left part of the bay reachable by foot (past half sank fisherman's longboat). Another thing to be aware of, there are plenty of Hermodice carunculata (fireworms), by the very shore as well (1 meter offshore, 25cm depth, sandy bottom). With the water so muddy by the surface it was a challenge to enter safely. The bottom of the bay itself is full of waste and garbage(tires, bottles, etc.), so you should pass it to get to the Wall itself. The visibility has increased dramatically by entering the narrow part of the strait. It is impressive with high mountain-like rock falling vertically into the sea and continuing to go down, disappearing in the deep blue below. I am an amateur freediver and it was my first experience to have the only reference point as vertical wall and my buoy cord (I was alone, so I went only 20 meters down but still have seen no bottom). There are also some shelves as well, so the landscape varies and is inhabited by various species, that makes it interesting and adventure-like. The wall itself is abundantly grown with sponges and algae and has quite a picturesque look of the most prominent Mediterranean littoral cave biota. Shelves population vary, but most significant were fire worms (it was mating season, so I have witnessed the breeding dance), Sciaena umbra, Muraena helena, octopuses, Maja crispata and quite rare in this region Sparisoma cretense. Pelagic species surprised me with plenty of Boops boops. There is a great variety of algae, sponges and other sessile animals on the shelves (like the fabulous Pinna nobilis colony). Due to the proximity of depth some really huge fishes (more than 1m in length) have been seen passing by at great speed, most likely Seriola dumerili or likewise. I have turned back by the light beacon at the entrance of the strait and left ashore around the longboat (since the spearfishers were gone). My tour lasted for 2,5 hours, it was challenging and exhausting and circumstances require being over-cautious. For me it was more of an adventure and discovery rather than recreational snorkeling. You have to know how to dive and if you are not scuba, then all you will do is diving 10+ meters in a row. As a scuba diver (I am PADI OWD) I would not feel safe to submerge there unless I am perfect at buoyancy and depth control. The terrain is challenging but it's a great experience that I would like to live again.