Folegandros Landing Craft Wreck — Apokoronas Diving Park, Ombros Gialos, Crete (Scuttled 10 June 2026)

HMS Folegandros, a 40 m Hellenic Navy landing craft, was scuttled in the Apokoronas Diving Park at Ombros Gialos near Almyrida, Apokoronas, Crete on Wednesday 10 June 2026 — becoming the new diving park's second wreck alongside the R/K Nestor tugboat.

Category: Dive Sites

Date: June 10, 2026

Read time: 7 min read

Dive Sites

June 10, 2026

7 min read

Apokoronas Diving Park at Ombros Gialos near Almyrida, Crete — site of the Folegandros landing craft wreck

The Announcement

About the Folegandros

Where the Wreck Sits

Diving the Folegandros: What to Expect

Why It Matters for Crete Diving

Dive the Apokoronas Park with Kefi Divers

✅ Scuttled — Wednesday 10 June 2026

The decommissioned Hellenic Navy landing craft HMS Folegandros was scuttled at the Ombros Gialos Diving Park (Apokoronas, near Almyrida, Crete) on Wednesday 10 June 2026 — joining the R/K Nestor tugboat as the new diving park's second wreck. The operation was supported by the Crete Naval Station, the Hellenic Coast Guard and the Municipality of Apokoronas.

A second wreck has settled on the seabed at the Apokoronas Diving Park — also known as the Ombros Gialos Diving Park — near Almyrida in Crete. HMS Folegandros, a 40-metre Hellenic Navy landing craft, was scuttled here on Wednesday 10 June 2026.

The sinking marks the next chapter in an 11-year project. Following the scuttling of the R/K Nestor tugboat in April 2025 and the placement of 37 artificial reef habitats by the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, the addition of HMS Folegandros cements the Apokoronas Diving Park as Greece's flagship recreational wreck-and-reef destination.

For divers based in Almyrida, Chania or visiting Crete, HMS Folegandros will offer a new wreck dive once the park officially opens for recreational diving.

The 40 m × 8.8 m landing craft — 2.1 m draft, acquired by the Hellenic Navy from the USA in 1974 — lies within the approximately 60,000 m² (6-hectare) park alongside 37 main artificial habitat structures across 7 habitat types and 4 navigational beacons.

The scuttling on 10 June 2026 took place under an exclusion zone and official supervision. The park is not yet open for recreational diving and is expected to open for the start of summer 2027, subject to the required approval.

The addition of a second warship shows that Apokoronas can carry out projects that change the game. — Charalambos Koukianakis, Mayor of Apokoronas

HMS Folegandros is a decommissioned Hellenic Navy landing craft — a flat-bottomed, ramp-bowed vessel 40 metres long, 8.8 metres wide, with a 2.1 metre draft. According to Navy records she was acquired from the USA in 1974 and served for five decades before being donated to the Apokoronas Diving Park project.

Landing craft are exceptional candidates for artificial reefs. Their wide open decks, tall bulkheads and large bow ramps create generous, naturally-lit interior spaces that are far easier and safer to explore — and, where permitted, to penetrate — than the cramped engine rooms of older cargo wrecks. The flat hull also sits stably on the seabed, and the reinforced steel construction resists corrosion for decades.

Cleaned of fuel, oils, PCBs and any hazardous materials before sinking — a process supervised to international environmental standards — HMS Folegandros has now begun her second life as a permanent wreck inside Greece's first officially authorized underwater marine park.

HMS Folegandros — Quick Facts

Type:

Hellenic Navy landing craft (40 m × 8.8 m, 2.1 m draft)

Origin:

Acquired from the USA, 1974 — decommissioned

New Role:

Artificial reef & recreational wreck dive

Location:

Ombros Gialos Diving Park, Apokoronas, near Almyrida, Crete

Apokoronas Diving Park artificial reef structures at Ombros Gialos, Crete

The artificial reef field at Ombros Gialos — the Folegandros now rests alongside these structures.

The Folegandros was scuttled inside the Apokoronas Diving Park's protected marine zone at Ombros Gialos, a short boat ride from Almyrida and roughly 20 km east of Chania town. She has joined the Tugboat Nestor and the existing reef field, creating a multi-stop underwater route rather than a single isolated wreck.

HMS Folegandros reaches a maximum depth of approximately 19 m, as does R/K Nestor. Both wrecks are within Open Water certification depth limits.

How to find it

Kefi Divers intends to offer boat dives to the Folegandros from Almyrida once the park officially opens to recreational divers, subject to the approved operating arrangements.

Diver exploring a wreck at the Apokoronas Diving Park

Wreck exploration at the Apokoronas Diving Park (pictured: the Tugboat Nestor — the Folegandros offers a similar experience at greater scale).

Certification level

Open Water certification is sufficient for HMS Folegandros and R/K Nestor, as both wrecks reach a maximum depth of approximately 19 m.

What to look for

The exterior structure — bridge, mast and deck rails — are the photographic highlights from day one. Expect colonising marine life (algae, encrusting sponges, the first damselfish and bream) within weeks, building over the seasons into a full reef community.

Penetration

Any potential inside-the-wreck routes will be assessed and inspected only after the park officially opens. Until official requirements are established, no recreational penetration should be assumed.

Always dive with a buddy

Wrecks are rewarding precisely because they're complex environments. Whether you're a new diver or a seasoned wreck specialist, dive the Folegandros with a guide who knows the site, follow your training, and never penetrate without the right qualification, equipment and a planned route.

Adding a second, larger wreck transforms Apokoronas from a single-site curiosity into a genuine multi-day diving destination. The benefits cascade well beyond the dive itself:

🐟 Marine biodiversity:

More structure means more shelter, more spawning grounds and faster recovery for over-fished local species.

🌍 Sustainable tourism:

International wreck divers stay longer and spend more locally — supporting Almyrida and Apokoronas year-round, not just in peak summer.

🤿 Diver progression:

A compact tug + a 40-metre landing craft + a reef field gives divers real variety from one boat, with both wrecks reaching a maximum depth of approximately 19 m.

It's also a powerful signal. After a decade of bureaucratic delays, Apokoronas has now delivered two scuttled wrecks and a fully landscaped reef field — proof that ambitious, sustainable diving infrastructure is possible in Greece.

The Tugboat Nestor, first wreck of the Apokoronas Diving Park

The Tugboat Nestor — sister wreck to the newly scuttled Folegandros, both forming the heart of the Apokoronas Diving Park.

Kefi Divers is based in Almyrida, a short boat ride from the Apokoronas Diving Park. We intend to offer guided boat dives after the official opening. Send us your Open Water or higher certification level and travel dates to join the waitlist.

👉 Interested in the new wrecks? Register your interest and we'll contact you after the park officially opens.

Interested in a Wreck Dive?

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Park Opening Timeline

Now that both wrecks are on the seabed, attention shifts to opening the site safely to recreational divers. Here's where the Ombros Gialos Diving Park stands and what's coming next:

10 June 2026 — Folegandros scuttled:

The Hellenic Navy landing craft was scuttled inside the park's protected zone, joining the R/K Nestor tugboat and 37 artificial reef structures.

29 June 2026 — Operating rules adopted:

The Apokoronas municipal council met to approve the park's operating regulations, ahead of signing a management agreement with the local development agency.

After scuttling — current status:

Both wrecks reach a maximum depth of approximately 19 m. The park remains closed to recreational diving.

Start of summer 2027 — Expected opening:

The park is expected to open for the start of summer 2027, subject to the required approval. This timing is not guaranteed.

From opening onward — Year-round operation:

Unlike most Greek dive sites, the park is planned to operate year-round, with 24/7 camera and physical surveillance protecting the wrecks and reef field outside the traditional May–October season.

🗓️ Quick summary

Status: not yet open for recreational diving. Expected opening: the start of summer 2027, subject to the required approval. Both wrecks reach a maximum depth of approximately 19 m and Open Water certification is sufficient.

Media coverage: Ekathimerini · To Vima

Frequently Asked Questions

Planning to dive the Folegandros or the Tugboat Nestor?

See our Chania Diving Park FAQ for practical details about depths, certification requirements, the park opening timeline, and how to register your interest in a future guided wreck dive with Kefi Divers.

Read the Diving Park FAQ

What is the A/B Folegandros?

A/B Folegandros is a decommissioned Hellenic Navy landing craft — a flat-bottomed, ramp-bowed vessel donated for the Apokoronas Diving Park project to become its second permanent shipwreck after the Tugboat Nestor.

When was the Folegandros sunk?

HMS Folegandros was scuttled at Ombros Gialos on Wednesday 10 June 2026. The operation was supported by the Crete Naval Station, the Hellenic Coast Guard and the Municipality of Apokoronas, with a one-kilometre exclusion zone enforced around the site.

Where does the Folegandros wreck sit?

The vessel was scuttled inside the Apokoronas Diving Park's protected zone at Ombros Gialos, alongside the Tugboat Nestor and the existing artificial reef field, a short boat ride from Almyrida and Kalyves.

How deep will the Folegandros wreck be?

HMS Folegandros reaches a maximum depth of approximately 19 metres, as does R/K Nestor.

What certification will I need to dive the Folegandros?

Open Water certification is sufficient for both HMS Folegandros and R/K Nestor.

Will divers be able to penetrate the wreck?

Any potential penetration routes will be assessed and inspected only after the park officially opens. Requirements will be confirmed then; recreational penetration should not be assumed.

How will the Folegandros wreck compare to the Tugboat Nestor?

HMS Folegandros is a 40-metre landing craft and R/K Nestor is a compact tugboat. Both reach a maximum depth of approximately 19 metres, offering distinct exterior profiles at the same park.

Can beginners or non-divers visit the Folegandros site?

Once the park officially opens, Open Water divers will be eligible to dive HMS Folegandros. Visitor and non-diver arrangements have not yet been confirmed.

Will the Folegandros be safe to dive on its own — without a guide?

We strongly recommend diving the Folegandros with a local guide who knows the site, mooring lines and any approved penetration routes. Kefi Divers will run guided trips from Almyrida as soon as the wreck is officially open to recreational diving.