Sea area closes Wednesday as retired ship is sunk to create dive site off Apokoronas

Summary

On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the decommissioned vessel "A/V Folegandros" will be deliberately sunk at Ombros Gialos to become a new attraction within the Apokoronas Diving Park. A safety exclusion zone of at least one kilometre will be enforced around the sinking site from the early hours of Wednesday until the operation is complete, with no access permitted for private boats, fishing vessels, dive boats, or water sports equipment such as kayaks and SUPs. Everyone in the wider area is required to follow instructions from the Coast Guard.

Ship sinking at Ombros Gialos: what you need to know before Wednesday

On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the decommissioned vessel "A/V Folegandros" will be deliberately sunk at Ombros Gialos, within the designated Apokoronas Diving Park. The operation will be carried out by the Crete Naval Base, together with the relevant authorities and the municipality of Apokoronas.

Key times

Exclusion zone active: From the early hours of June 10, 2026

Naval tug expected to arrive: Between 09:30 and 11:30

Zone lifted: Once the operation is fully complete

Who is affected?

A safety exclusion zone of at least one kilometre around the sinking point at Ombros Gialos will be enforced for all vessels and water users not officially part of the operation. This includes:

Private and tourist boats

Commercial vessels

Fishing boats

Dive boats and individual divers

Water sports equipment including canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards

Swimmers and beachgoers in the wider area

A joint inspection by naval personnel and municipal representatives found that the Ombros Gialos bay sees heavy traffic from private and tourist boats during the summer season, which raised the safety requirements for the operation.

What do you need to do?

Anyone planning to be near Ombros Gialos on June 10 should stay well outside the exclusion zone and follow all instructions from the Coast Guard and other safety personnel. Only vessels and individuals holding an explicit permit from the competent authorities may enter the safety zone.

Why is this happening?

According to the municipality, the sinking of the Folegandros is a key step in developing the Apokoronas Diving Park. The wreck is intended to serve as an artificial reef and dive attraction, with the aim of boosting dive tourism and alternative tourism in the area.

PRESS RELEASE – Strict safety measures and exclusion of the maritime area for the sinking of the vessel "A/V FOLEGANDROS" at the Apokoronas Diving Park, from the early morning hours of Wednesday, 10 June 2026, until the completion of the operation.

9 June 2026, 08:49

The Municipality of Apokoronas informs citizens, residents, visitors to the area, maritime professionals and all users of the maritime zone that on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, the operation to sink the decommissioned vessel "A/V FOLEGANDROS" at the location "Ombros Gialos", within the designated Apokoronas Diving Park, will take place.

The operation will be carried out by the Crete Naval Base (Naustathmos Kritis), with the assistance of the competent authorities and the Municipality of Apokoronas, and its commencement is expected upon the arrival of the Hellenic Navy tug during the period 09:30 to 11:30.

During the inspection carried out in the area by members of the Hellenic Navy and the Municipality of Apokoronas, the increased presence and visitation of private and tourist vessels in the bay of Ombros Gialos was noted, a fact which creates heightened safety requirements for this particular operation.

For this reason, and in order to eliminate any possible risk during the sinking, it is deemed absolutely necessary to remove and prohibit the approach of any vessel or floating craft not participating in the operation within a radius of at least one (1) kilometre from the sinking point.

The maritime area of Ombros Gialos will be under enhanced surveillance from the early morning hours of the day until the completion of the operation. For safety reasons, the approach, presence or passage of private, commercial and tourist vessels, fishing vessels, dive boats, and any other floating craft within the designated safety zone will not be permitted, except for those participating in the operation and holding the relevant permit from the competent authorities.

At the same time, swimmers, visitors to the area, amateur fishermen, divers, users of water sports equipment (canoe, kayak, SUP, etc.) and every citizen present in the wider area are called upon to comply with the instructions of the Coast Guard and the competent safety authorities, avoiding approach to the operation area until its full completion.

The Municipality of Apokoronas calls upon all users of the maritime area to demonstrate the maximum possible cooperation, contributing to the safe completion of a particularly significant operation for the development of the Apokoronas Diving Park.

The sinking of the "A/V FOLEGANDROS" constitutes an important step for the completion and promotion of the Diving Park, strengthening the development prospects of diving and alternative tourism in Apokoronas.

MUNICIPALITY OF APOKORONAS