Beaches and Sea Creatures of Greece
Blue Flag
Greece's mainland and islands offer a huge variety of beaches and swimming areas for all to enjoy. The sea in Greece ranges from shallow turquoise water, crystal clear coves to a deep blue never ending depth. Her Endless coast is filled with mixture of swimming spots such as:
Sandy Beaches
Rock swimming
Private coves
Pebbled beaches
Cave exploring
Quiet bays
Organized beaches for sporting fun
In 2005, 383 of Greece’s beaches were awarded the European Blue Flag Award. In 2008, 416 Beaches were awarded the Blue Flag status and every year things just get better! This particular collection of beaches were rated among the best in Europe for the following reasons:
Cleanliness and hygiene of swimming and walking areas
Organization (beach chairs, snack bars)
Accessibility for family and disabled
Safety (lifeguards, equipment)
Fist Aid service
Environmental kindness
Please visit the following link for a detailed listing of Greece’s “Blue Flags” beaches
Monachus Monachus
The endangered ‘monachus monachus’ Mediterranean monk seal is possibly the cutest of Greece’s sea mammals. With only a few hundred left in the Mediterranean and Europe, the Greek Islands are host to over 250 of these seals.
The seals have a shiny fur that ranges from a darkish brown to a silvery grey and grow up to 3 metres in length and 300 kilograms in weight!! They are at the top of the marine food chain and a necessary part of the ecological system in Greece and all over the world.
Thanks to changing attitudes, educational programs, volunteers and some wonderful organizations Greece has moved forward over the last decade in protecting the monachus monachus.
Over ten years ago a marine park was established on the island of Alonnissos in the Sporades region in order to habitat, protect and research the seals. On that very same island a rescue and rehabilitation centre operates to help orphaned and sick seals. Recently established protected areas are also on Karpathos island, in the Dodecanese region and on the small island of Kimolos, next to Milos in the Cyclades.
To find out further information or volunteer to help save the Mediterranean Monk Seals visit www.mom.gr
Dolphins of Greece
Dolphins have been a part of Greece’s sea life since ancient times – they were the attendants to Poseidon, the God of the Sea associated with positive omens and symbolizing forthcoming good weather conditions.
The dolphins of Greece are a silvery grey colour and some have a white belly area. They can reach up to 40 yrs old and 4 metres in length .
The best way to meet our friendly marine mammals is a sailing vacation in the Greek Islands where they can often be seen in the Ionian islands and Argo Saronic Gulf region. They travel in groups and often play with sail boats or motor yachts by leading the way, then coming up to the side and showing off their acrobatics to the crowd.
In recent years, dolphins in the Mediterranean have been added to the endangered list due to changing global climates, depreciating food sources and human factors such as fishing and chemical contamination.
Organisations such as the Pelagos Cetacean Reserach Institute (www.pelagosinstitute.gr) research, rescue and educate people on the importance of keeping dolphins and other sea mammals alive.
Caretta Caretta Loggerhead Sea Turtles
The Caretta Caretta are fast becoming Greece’s most famous sea animals and anyone who has been to the Ionian Islands will definitely be familiar with turtles.
 Their nesting season is in July and August where thousands of mother turtles come out of the water to lay their eggs on sandy beaches. The eggs must not be touched for 55 days until they hatch. The baby turtles pop out of their shells at night and follow the light of the moon into their home in the ocean.Caretta Caretta tutles are mostly found on Kefallonia, Lefkada, the Peloponnesse coast and some of Crete. Their largest nesting area is in Laganas Bay in Zakynthos which is also a protected area.
Each year hundreds of tourists volunteer all over Greece to monitor the conditions of the beaches, educate other visitors and create a protected environment for the turtles. Non-profit organisations such as Archelon, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece (www.archelon.gr) offers educational programs, research facilities and even sponsorship of Caretta Caretta.
Sperm Whales of Crete
Who would have thought that sailing through Greece’s Southen Crete would offer an amazing site as sperm whales at play?
Sperm whales are a dark greyish colour, range between 12-18 metres in length and up to an enormous 44 tonnes in weight.
The area near Paleohora is surrounded by very deep under water cliffs that offer an abundance of squid – whales favourite food. All year round male and female sperm whales use the south of Crete as a feeding and gathering ground. Reserchers believe it is the only site in the Mediterranean and possibly around the world, where sperm whales both solitary male sperm whales and social units of females with calves can be found year round.
The Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute (www.pelagosinstitute.gr) is a scientific non-profit organisation whose goal is the study and conservation of dolphins, whales and the other cetaceans of the Greek Seas and the Mediterranean Sea.
Endless Blue thanks the following non-profit organisations for allowing the use of their photographs in this section.
Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute
Archelon, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece
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