Wreck Diving in Chania, Crete
Discover wreck diving in Chania: explore SS Minnewaska III today and learn about Nestor, Folegandros and the future Apokoronas Diving Park.
Category: Dive Sites
Date: September 29, 2026
Read time: 9 min read
Wreck diving in Chania brings together First World War maritime history and an exciting new chapter in Crete's underwater tourism.
Today, certified divers can explore the remains of SS Minnewaska III near Souda Bay with Kefi Divers. Meanwhile, two deliberately scuttled vessels — the tugboat R/K Nestor and the former military landing craft Folegandros — are already resting on the seabed at the developing Apokoronas Diving Park.
The important distinction is availability: Minnewaska is an established recreational dive, while the Diving Park is expected to open in summer 2027, subject to official approval.
This guide explains what makes each wreck special, where it is located, how deep it lies and what divers should know before planning a visit.
1. SS Minnewaska III: Chania's historic shipwreck
From passenger liner to First World War troop transport
SS Minnewaska III was built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast and launched in November 1908.
Originally a transatlantic passenger liner, the vessel was requisitioned for military service during the First World War. It transported troops through the Mediterranean, including Australian soldiers travelling to the Gallipoli campaign.
On 29 November 1916, Minnewaska struck a naval mine near the entrance to Souda Bay.
Captain Gates managed to bring the damaged vessel into shallow water. According to the Australian War Memorial, the incident caused no loss of life.
The wreck was subsequently salvaged and broken up, leaving the structural remains visible to divers today.
What can you see underwater?
Minnewaska is not an intact shipwreck. Its surviving remains include sections of hull plating, ribs and other structural components spread across the seabed.
These open structures create an atmospheric dive site where visitors can appreciate both the vessel's history and the marine life that has developed around its remains.
There are no intact enclosed penetration routes.
Depth, access and certification
- Location: Near the entrance to Souda Bay, on the Marathi side.
- Depth: Approximately 12–19 metres.
- Access: By boat.
- Certification: Suitable for appropriately qualified Open Water divers or equivalent, subject to the planned depth, experience and conditions.
- Availability: Currently visited by Kefi Divers on certified-diver boat trips.
The maximum depth is approximately 19 metres, so dive profiles must respect each diver's certification limits.
For a more detailed account of the ship's history and underwater remains, read our dedicated SS Minnewaska III diving guide.
2. Apokoronas Diving Park: the future of wreck diving in Chania
A short distance from Almyrida, the Apokoronas Diving Park is being developed at Ombros Gialos on Crete's northern coast.
The project covers approximately 60,000 square metres and is managed by the Municipality of Apokoronas.
Its underwater infrastructure includes 37 artificial reef structures placed in October 2024, followed by two deliberately scuttled vessels in 2025 and 2026.
Although the physical infrastructure is in place, the park is not yet open for ordinary recreational diving.
R/K Nestor: the tugboat wreck
R/K Nestor was deliberately scuttled on 2 April 2025, becoming the park's first artificial shipwreck.
The vessel is a former tugboat measuring approximately 21 metres according to municipal project documentation.
Its maximum depth is approximately 19 metres, based on Kefi Divers' current site information.
Unlike Minnewaska, Nestor was intentionally placed on the seabed as part of a planned recreational diving and artificial habitat project.
Once the park opens, it is expected to become one of the area's distinctive underwater attractions.
Folegandros: the former military landing craft
Folegandros, officially identified in Greek municipal documentation as Α/Β ΦΟΛΕΓΑΝΔΡΟΣ, is a former military landing craft.
Approximately 42 metres long according to municipal project documentation, it was deliberately scuttled at Ombros Gialos on 10 June 2026.
The vessel now rests at a maximum depth of approximately 19 metres, based on current local site information.
Its military history and purpose-built landing-craft design distinguish it from the smaller Nestor tugboat.
Visitors interested in the vessel's background can read our dedicated Folegandros landing craft article.
What makes the artificial reef project different?
The park combines large wreck structures with smaller artificial habitats designed to provide shelter and surfaces for marine organisms.
Over time, these structures may develop increasingly complex marine communities, although the abundance and diversity of marine life cannot be guaranteed.
For further details about the project's infrastructure, management and development, see our complete Apokoronas Diving Park guide and Diving Park FAQ.
3. How deep are the wreck dives in Chania?
| Wreck | Approximate depth | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| SS Minnewaska III | 12–19 m | Recreational diving available |
| R/K Nestor | Maximum ~19 m | Awaiting park opening |
| Folegandros | Maximum ~19 m | Awaiting park opening |
These depths describe the wreck sites, not a guarantee that every part of a wreck is accessible to every diver.
The Diving Park's wider seabed area extends across different depths and should not be confused with the depth of an individual wreck.
4. What certification do you need for wreck diving?
Open Water divers
Open Water certification can be sufficient for recreational wreck diving when the planned dive remains within the diver's training limits.
The standard adult PADI Open Water depth limit is 18 metres.
For Minnewaska, which reaches approximately 19 metres at its deepest point, an appropriately planned shallower route may be suitable for an Open Water diver.
The guide must also consider recent diving experience, buoyancy, comfort and environmental conditions.
Advanced Open Water and wreck training
Advanced Open Water training can extend a diver's depth limits and experience, but it does not automatically qualify someone to enter enclosed wreck spaces.
A PADI Wreck Diver specialty provides additional training in wreck-related hazards, navigation and techniques, with penetration training subject to appropriate conditions and course requirements.
Exploring the exterior of a wreck and entering an overhead environment are fundamentally different activities.
Kefi Divers does not offer recreational penetration of Minnewaska's remains.
For Nestor and Folegandros, future eligibility will depend on officially approved routes, actual dive profiles, diver qualifications and operating conditions once the park opens.
5. Historic shipwrecks versus deliberately scuttled wrecks
Minnewaska and the two Diving Park wrecks represent different parts of maritime history.
Minnewaska is a genuine First World War casualty. Its surviving structures tell the story of a working vessel, its military service and its sinking more than a century ago.
Nestor and Folegandros are former working vessels deliberately placed underwater for a modern recreational and habitat-development project.
Neither experience is inherently better.
Historic wrecks offer a direct connection to past events, while purpose-scuttled wrecks can offer distinctive structures and developing artificial habitats.
Together, they provide different reasons to explore Chania's underwater heritage.
6. When will the Apokoronas Diving Park open?
The park is currently expected to open for recreational diving in summer 2027, subject to the necessary approvals.
This is a projected timeframe, not a confirmed opening date.
The two vessels and the artificial reef structures are already underwater, but their presence does not mean recreational access has been authorised.
Kefi Divers intends to offer guided boat trips once the park officially opens and access is approved.
Until then, neither Nestor nor Folegandros should be considered a currently bookable recreational dive.
For the latest operational information, consult our Diving Park FAQ or contact our team.
7. Wreck diving with Kefi Divers
Based in Almyrida, Kefi Divers offers guided boat diving for certified divers along the Chania coast, including trips to SS Minnewaska III.
Our certified-diver boat programme normally includes two dives at two different sites, with a total activity duration of approximately four hours.
We keep groups small, with a maximum of six certified divers per guide, and adapt dive plans to certification, experience, comfort and conditions.
Minnewaska is among our established wreck-diving sites, but a generic boat-diving reservation does not automatically guarantee a particular wreck. Contact us if Minnewaska is your priority.
For divers interested in the future Apokoronas Diving Park, we welcome enquiries about planned trips once the park officially opens.
Current trips: View Certified Boat Dives.
Future park trips: Enquire About Future Diving Park Trips.
Looking for other wrecks in Crete?
Chania is not the only area of Crete with underwater wartime history.
For another example, read our guide to the Junkers Ju-88 aircraft wreck near Rethymno. It offers a different perspective on the island's Second World War heritage.
You can also explore our wider Best Dive Sites in Crete guide for caves, reefs, shore diving and other underwater attractions.
Kefi Divers has additionally supported marine archaeological fieldwork involving a British landing craft. This research activity should not be confused with a recreational dive offered to guests.
8. Frequently asked questions
Can you go wreck diving in Chania, Crete?
Yes. Kefi Divers offers guided certified-diver boat trips that can include SS Minnewaska III near Souda Bay. The two Apokoronas Diving Park wrecks are not yet available for ordinary recreational diving.
Where is the SS Minnewaska III wreck?
Minnewaska lies near the entrance to Souda Bay, on the Marathi side of Chania, at approximately 12–19 metres depth.
Can Open Water divers dive Minnewaska?
Potentially, yes. The dive must remain within the diver's certification depth limit and be suitable for their experience and the conditions. The wreck's deepest point is approximately 19 metres.
Is Apokoronas Diving Park open?
No. The park's wrecks and artificial reef structures are in place, but ordinary recreational diving is awaiting official opening and approval.
When was R/K Nestor sunk?
The tugboat R/K Nestor was deliberately scuttled on 2 April 2025 as part of the Apokoronas Diving Park project.
When was Folegandros sunk?
The former military landing craft Folegandros was deliberately scuttled at Ombros Gialos on 10 June 2026.
How deep are the Nestor and Folegandros wrecks?
Both have an approximate maximum depth of 19 metres according to current Kefi Divers site information.
Will Open Water divers be able to visit the Diving Park wrecks?
That will depend on the officially approved dive routes, actual depths, diver qualifications and conditions. Their approximate 19-metre maximum depth should not be interpreted as automatic Open Water eligibility.
Can you enter the wrecks?
Minnewaska consists of open structural remains rather than an intact vessel with enclosed penetration routes. Future penetration rules for Nestor and Folegandros have not yet been confirmed.
Can I book a Diving Park wreck dive with Kefi Divers?
Not yet. Kefi Divers plans to offer guided trips after the park officially opens and access is approved. You can contact the team to express your interest in future availability.
9. Historical and official sources
The historical account of SS Minnewaska III is supported by the Australian War Memorial's wartime records.
Information about the Apokoronas Diving Park, its infrastructure and the two scuttled vessels is based on official Municipality of Apokoronas announcements and project documentation.
Opening dates, approved dive routes and access requirements may change as the project progresses.