Magic Sea Life

The Island of Santorini is famous especially for the chic towns of Fira and Oia, which offer gorgeous views from the cliffs on which they are built. Fira  Oia However, for beaches and snorkeling we must look somewhere else. I stayed in Akrotiri, near the Caldera Beach, a beach with black sand and a view to the volcano. The underwater life wasn't very interesting, noteworthy are just the cornetfish (rare in Greece) and the barracudas.  The visibility wasn't good either, and the sea was never calm. Mediterranean barracuda - Sphyraena sphyraena Bluespotted cornetfish - Fistularia commersonii Saddled seabream - Oblada melanura Dusky Grouper - Epinephelus marginatus A beautiful scenery can be seen at the Red Beach, where it's easy to get on foot, despite warnings from some people. However, from here there are a few beaches only accessible by boat. Night view of Fira from Akrotiri:

Insula Santorini este celebra in special pentru localitatile cochete Fira si Oia, care ofera privelisti superbe de la inaltimea falezei pe care sunt plasate.  Fira  Oia Pentru plaja si snorkeling insa trebuie alese alte locuri.  Eu am stat in Akrotiri, la plaja Caldera, o plaja cu nisip negru si cu vedere spre vulcan. Viata subacvatica nu a fost foarte interesanta, notabil am vazut doar Cornetfish (rari in Grecia) si baracude. Nici vizibilitatea nu era buna, iar marea nu a fost calma niciodata. Baracuda mediteraneana -  Sphyraena sphyraena  Cornetfish - Fistularia commersonii Saddled seabream - Oblada melanura Dusky Grouper - Epinephelus marginatus Un peisaj frumos ofera plaja rosie, unde se poate ajunge destul de usor si cu piciorul, in ciuda avertismentelor unora. De aici insa sunt cateva plaje accesibile doar cu barca. Fira vazuta noaptea din Akrotiri:

In Halkidiki, at the end of the Sitonia peninsula, in Porto Koufo, I enjoyed the best snorkeling experience in Europe. Besides the multitude of octopuses and cuttlefish, the colorful Beardworms, yellow sea sponges and various sea urchins species, I saw anemones, a tub gurnard  and various starfish. Flying gurnard - Dactylopterus volitans Cuttlefish - Sepia officinalis Common Octopus - Octopus vulgaris  A curious octopus :)     Snakelock anemone - Anemonia sulcata Starfish - Astropecten aranciacus  Black Sea Urchin- Diadema antillarum and Purple Sea Urchin - Paracentrotus lividus Black sea urchin   and Heart urchin (shell) - Spatangoida Yellow Sea Sponge- Aplysina aerophoba A strange lifeform - Ascidia mentula (Phylum Chordata ) Large Bearded Fireworm   - Hermodice carunculata Feather Duster Worms - Sabellastarte  Surprisingly, the beach is very good, with sand and convenient entry into the water.

In Halkidiki, in capatul peninsulei Sithonia, in Porto Koufo am avut parte de cea mai buna exprienta de snorkeling din Europa. In afara de multitudinea de caracatite si sepii, de viermii colorati Beardworms, bureti galbeni si arici de mai multe feluri, am vazut anemone, o randunica de mare si diferite specii de stele de mare. Randunica de mare - Dactylopterus volitans Sepia - Sepia officinalis Caracatita - Octopus vulgaris Caracatita curioasa :) Anemona (una din putinele specii din Mediterana) - Anemonia sulcata Stea de mare - Astropecten aranciacus Arici negru - Diadema antillarum si arici rosu - Paracentrotus lividus Arici negru si schelet de  arici "inima" - Spatangoida Burete galben - Aplysina aerophoba O vietate mai ciudata - Ascidia mentula (Increngatura Chordata ) Viermi Bearded Fireworm de dimensiuni foarte mari - Hermodice carunculata Viermi Feather Duster - Sabellastarte