Diving in Greece bad experience

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Sir, whats wrong with you, are you a troll? I posted my experience and if you do not believe what i am saying I could not care less! Over and out.
 
I would not generalize the situation of one place to the whole Greece. Where did this bad experience took place?
 
Sir, whats wrong with you, are you a troll? I posted my experience and if you do not believe what i am saying I could not care less! Over and out.

It would be very helpful to the rest of us if you posted your experience with a few more details. When I was in Greece (admittedly many years ago) I could only free dive due to the Antiquities Laws. There is a lot of history in Greece that is stored beneath the sea and I understand the government's desire to protect that. Since there wasn't enough detail in your original post, it is difficult to understand exactly why you might have had this bad experience.
 
Last 4 years spent my summer holidays in Crete, one of Greece islands. No problems at all, only positive feeling. Been diving with 3 different DC's in different parts of Crete, everywhere the same - between very good and perfect. Been discussing several times rules etc.. with dive centers stuff and owners - it is huge amount of amphora's and other very old ceramic things in the bottom. Yes, just in 2006 Government open all sea for diving, previously it was possible in specific places only.
 
Diving (for work and for fun) in Crete (mainly Central South) since 2006 and did not meet yet with a coast guard officer.
Stopping the car near any beach-gearing up-splash.
No questions asked other than "how big are the fish here" from locals and tourists :D

Current Diving Rules in Greece :
SCUBA Diving in Greece - Virtual Travels to Greece
 
Hello, i am from Greece and i have been diving in Greece for more than 10 years.

The rules are simple, you must have a diver certification card, proper equipment including a signaling buoy, a buddy and you must not dive in an ancient wreck dive site, it is easy to find out where diving its not allowed by asking the local coast guard or a local dive center.

The coast guard came to check me only 3-4 times during the 10 years i have been diving and i never had a problem.

It is a bit weird that you had such a bad experience and the fact that you joined Scubaboard just in order to share your "bad experience".

It would be a bit more helpfull or convincing if you could share with us more details.
 
I spent two weeks diving in santorini earlier this year(16 dives) , coming from australia with beautiful beaches just about anywhere you go, I was amazed at the beauty of the Agean sea. One of the best experiences of my life. I would say that you were unlucky enough to dive with a shop that doesnt have a good reputation and is known by local authorities.
 
I spent a couple weeks in the Aegean Sea shortly after the government opened it up for recreational diving.
I started out in Athens and took ferries from there.
Traveled to Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and Antiparos, Punda, Paritica, and Dispotchio. ( Some of those might not be spelled right )

No need to report on the diving as that has been done pretty well already. I loved it. I have traveled quite a bit and have always said that Greece has to be by far one of the most tourist friendly countries I have been to. I had no pre planned agenda, no diving pre arranged no plan of any kind. I just went out into the Aegean Sea without any idea where I would end up.

Not once was I ever approached by anyone or hassled by anyone for anything.
 
Hi all,

just wanted to let know to the SB members my experience of diving in Greece: It was bad, not because the enviroment but because we get harassed all the times with authorities asking for papers and documents. Is not enjoyable at all, one of us even had to go to the coast guard office to show documents, we felt as criminals when we did absolutely nothing wrong. Beside that it was also a little too expensive. I will never go diving again in Greece, maybe you will be more luky...

It's likely the dive centre hadn't paid the required bribe to the local coastguard. Generally they'll hassle customers of dive centres whenever they feel like it until some money exchanges hands. It could be the best dive centre on earth, above board, very professional and if they don't pay the arbitrary bribe they'll get his as above. Happens to land based businesses obtaining licences too.

Still, no different to Egypt and many other places.
 

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