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

HMS Folegandros, a 40 m Hellenic Navy landing craft, was scuttled in the Ombros Gialos Diving Park 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

Ombros Gialos Diving Park near Almyrida, Apokoronas 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 Ombros Gialos Diving Park — also known as the Apokoronas 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 Ombros Gialos Diving Park as Greece's flagship recreational wreck-and-reef destination.

For divers based in Almyrida, Chania or visiting Crete in 2026, this means a brand-new wreck to add to the logbook — and the chance to dive a site within days of its scuttling.

The 40 m × 8.8 m landing craft — 2.1 m draft, acquired by the Hellenic Navy from the USA in 1974 — joins a 60-hectare protected marine zone that already includes 37 artificial habitats, 7 habitat types and 4 navigational beacons across four planned diving routes. Greece's first officially authorized underwater marine park required 58 ministerial signatures to bring to life.

On the day of the scuttling, a one-kilometre exclusion zone was enforced around Ombros Gialos by the Hellenic Coast Guard, with the area under continuous surveillance from the early morning until the operation was complete. According to Apokoronas Mayor Charalambos Koukianakis, the park is now expected to open to recreational divers toward the end of the 2026 tourist season — around October or November — and will operate year-round, with the site monitored 24/7 by cameras and physical surveillance. The municipal council was due to meet on 29 June 2026 to adopt operating rules, ahead of signing a management agreement with the local development agency. We'll update this post as the wreck is surveyed and officially opened.

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.

Final depth and orientation are still being confirmed by the project's marine engineers, but the vessel is expected to sit deeper than the 9–15.5 m Tugboat Nestor — opening up the park to Advanced Open Water divers and adding meaningful variety for repeat visitors.

How to find it

All dives on the Folegandros are boat dives departing from Almyrida or Kalyves. As your local PADI dive centre in Almyrida, Kefi Divers will run guided trips as soon as the wreck is officially opened to recreational divers.

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

The Folegandros is expected to be accessible to PADI Advanced Open Water divers (or equivalent) due to its depth. Open Water divers will still have plenty to enjoy at the Tugboat Nestor and the shallow reef field nearby.

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 inside-the-wreck routes will be opened gradually, with surveyed lines and clear cert-level requirements. Until then, all dives are exterior swim-arounds — which on a vessel of this size is more than enough for a memorable dive.

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 shallow tug + a deeper warship + a reef field gives divers a clear progression path, all from one boat.

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 — minutes from the Apokoronas Diving Park boat departure point. We were the first dive centre to visit the Tugboat Nestor on the day it was sunk, and we'll be among the first to dive the Folegandros once she's officially open. Whether you're certified, working towards Advanced Open Water, or completely new to diving, we'll get you onto the park safely.

👉 Want to dive Crete's newest wreck? Browse our dive experiences and book your spot for the 2026 season.

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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 is sunk inside the park's protected zone, joining the R/K Nestor tugboat and 37 artificial reef habitats.

29 June 2026 — Operating rules adopted:

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

Summer 2026 — Survey & moorings:

Marine engineers confirm the Folegandros' final orientation and depth, lay surveyed lines and install permanent mooring buoys for visiting dive boats.

October–November 2026 — Park opens to divers:

The Ombros Gialos Diving Park is expected to officially open to recreational divers toward the end of the 2026 tourist season, with Kefi Divers among the first to run guided trips from Almyrida.

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

Opens to divers: around October–November 2026. Season: year-round, not just summer. Security: 24/7 cameras + physical surveillance. We'll update this post the moment the park officially opens.

Sources: 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 book your 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?

Final depth and orientation are still to be confirmed by the project's marine engineers, but the vessel is expected to sit deeper than the 9–15.5 metre Tugboat Nestor — likely placing it within Advanced Open Water diver range.

What certification will I need to dive the Folegandros?

Based on the anticipated depth, divers will most likely need PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent). Open Water divers will still be able to enjoy the Tugboat Nestor and the shallow reef field nearby.

Will divers be able to penetrate the wreck?

Any inside-the-wreck routes will be opened gradually, with surveyed lines and clear certification requirements. Until then, all dives will be exterior swim-arounds — which on a vessel of this size is more than enough for a memorable dive.

How will the Folegandros wreck compare to the Tugboat Nestor?

The Folegandros is significantly larger than the Tugboat Nestor — a full naval landing craft versus a compact tug. Expect more deck space, taller superstructures, a distinctive bow ramp and a deeper profile, giving repeat visitors a very different dive on the same site.

Can beginners or non-divers visit the Folegandros site?

Once the wreck is open, beginners are likely to need PADI Advanced Open Water due to the anticipated depth. However, non-divers and snorkellers will still be able to join the boat trip to enjoy the bay, while certified divers explore the wreck below.

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.