Enthusiasts of underwater fishing and skin-diving will find the waters of the Aegean almost unexplored. Apart from fish of all kinds, including delicious lobsters, the waters hold a treasury of historical remains awaiting the adventurous diver, especially if he explores around the shores of Asia Minor. The waters that surround the Ionian Islands are equally good hunting grounds. The sea around the magnificently indented coastline is remarkably transparent, because no river of sufficient size to disturb the sea flows into them. Difficult of access as these coastal areas are, they are full of fish, but the best fishing spots cannot be reached except by boat.
Spear fishing is particularly rewarding in the Cyclades; shoals of fish abound and the topography of the underwater area is conducive to this form of hunting. But there is one caution: there are sharks around these islands! The unfailing rule to observe is never to remain underwater when once you have made a catch, because the what is from the fish will attract the sharks. The old hands, however, never worry about their presence; they know that these sharks are essentially cowards and it is possible to frighten them by setting up a noise. If the inexperienced diver, finding himself faced with a shark, keeps his nerve and swims to the surface without appearing to make a lost retreat, the shark will keep at a respectful distance. Divers without diving suits, exploring the submarine area close to the shore, have nothing to fear. The waters around the islands are ideal for gogglers who can explore the most wonderful underwater abysses. Many of the cliff faces that descend so abruptly into the sea are pitted with grottos of extraordinary size. Also, at some few yards from the shore, the seabed plunges to great depths and the fish there, unlike those in shallower waters, do not seem to take notice of divers.
In Greece it is not easy to have oxygen containers recharged, except in Athens, Patras and Thessaloniki. It is therefore sport ter to hire a portable compressor while in one of these places. Since 1960 foreigners must have a permit for underwater fishing. This permit is granted to people over 20 years of age and is obtainable from the naval authorities and from the harbormaster of the local ports, who are also in a position to give all the necessary information concerning underwater fishing in their area. The wearing of full diving suits is not allowed and although underwater fishing and diving is otherwise free, this sport is not permitted within 100 yards of public beaches, nor in the professional fishers' areas. Finally, you must not sell your catch!
The Hellenic Federation of Sports and Submarine Fishing, 4 Stadiou, Athens, (tel. 27-976) has branches at Thessaloniki, Callithea (near Athens), Mytilene (Lesbos), Corfu, Kavalla (Thrace) and Vouliagmeni (Attica).
Sweetwater fishing is free all over Greece and its principal catch is the mountain trout. The best regions are: Epirus (rivers Voidomatis, Kalamas, Luros, Aoos and Yannina and Konitsa lakes); Central Greece (Orchomenos, Aspropotamos and Mikro Chorio); Peloponnese (Varas, Megalopoleos and Ladonas). For further details contact Naval Club at Yannina (Epirus).