Having chatted to Katerina at the centre and seen their kit, my son, husband and I decided to do our PADI scuba training with them. We were so very glad we did! It was fabulous from start to finish. Niki was extremely professional and vigilant but made it all such fun. The marine environment was beautiful and the training was pitched perfectly. We can't recommend this centre and their lovely team enough. They have given us some wonderful memories we won't forget.
6 out of 5 stars!
So much fun tailored to my experience level.
I would recommend Athos Diving to everyone fit for diving. :)
Overview:
At Athos Diving, the atmosphere is delightfully light-hearted and enjoyable, making every moment a pleasure. The entire team is exceptionally professional and a joy to be around. They went the extra mile to ensure my experience was effortless, even selecting the perfect dive site tailored to my level of experience.
I could sense their passion for diving and their desire to share the stunning underwater landscapes with guests. In simple terms, the team genuinely loves what they do, and they excel at it!
The location:
I really liked the base's location. From Eagles Palace, it was just a 4-minute stroll along the beach. This meant I could unwind by the shore, do a little snorkeling before the dive, and then casually walk over.
The owners:
The two owners, Niki & Katerina are both absolutely fantastic! So much fun to chat. Both appear to be highly professional divers with extensive experience in both diving and teaching—a rare and exceptional combination!
The equipment:
The equipment is top notch, nothing seemed old or overused.
Getting to the dive sites was a little adventure in itself:
We boarded a small boat and took some quick rides to the sites that added an exciting element to the journey. During my stay, there were nearly no waves and the see was really calm.
The diving sites:
Currently, they offer 21 diving spots suitable for divers of various skill levels. The water is crystal clear, reminiscent of what you would expect in destinations like the Maldives, Caribbean, or Croatia. I observed a variety of different fish species, with no presence of sharks or any potential harm. While the underwater fauna may not be as vibrant in color as tropical regions, my overall experience, both underwater and above water, surpassed what I've encountered in Thailand, Bali, or Egypt.
Before the dive, it could make sense to check the website, since comprehensive information and stunning images, giving a glimpse of what to expect without movie-spoiling anything.
My Dives:
Due to the pandemic and the significant break in my diving pursuits, I had nearly let go of my diving hobby. While staying at Eagles Palace, I decided to rekindle my connection with the underwater realm, though I couldn't shake a touch of apprehension. To ease back into it, I opted for a refresher dive with Nikki to assess whether I still enjoyed and could manage it.
Right out of the box, I realized that Niki is very skilled in diving and teaching! -A rare trade. Coupled with her positive and enjoyable approach to everything, I gotta say, she totally blows my former male instructor in Germany out of the water! No pun intended! :D
Refreshing my skills was a great mix of fun, calming atmosphere and learning. The refresher dive site was conveniently located right at the base. We effortlessly waded into the water, conducted our training, and then ventured deeper into the bay area. During the dive, we encountered two octopuses nestled in their dens, as well as various snails and clams. This experience allowed me to regain my confidence in handling the BCD in the shallow waters. Everything went perfectly well and I felt really confident to start diving more often again.
On the second dive, we ventured to an island and commenced our descent from 2 meters, gradually reaching a depth of 15 meters with us divers deciding, how deep we want to go!
I had previously mentioned to Nikki that I had spotted some larger, yet elusive fish while snorkeling the day before.
In response, Niki guided us to a cave, carefully illuminating the area with a flashlight to unveil those very same, larger fish, adding an extra layer of wonder and exploration to the experience. Fantastic!
What truly stood out for me during the second dive was the thoughtful planning: It started with a shallow dive, progressed to deeper depths, and culminated at a vantage point with a breathtaking view of the sea. I wish I had more photos of the dive. :)