- A diver off Hersonissos spots a statue at just 3.8 meters depth.
- The find is located about 70 meters from the coast.
- Authorities confirm it is not ancient — but modern, and placed intentionally.
- Underwater art aims to enrich the seascape and educate divers.
- Similar finds, including a lion statue, have appeared in the area before.
Only in Crete could you go spearfishing and accidentally discover “art.”
That is exactly what happened to a diver in Hersonissos on Saturday, when — instead of a grouper — he came face to face with a statue lounging peacefully between seaweed and rocks, about 70 meters from the shore and just 3.8 meters deep.
He did what any sensible Cretan would: resurfaced, told everyone, and wondered how on earth a statue got there.
The story quickly made waves (no pun intended) when ekriti.gr and Radio Crete reported it, prompting the usual debate: ancient relic or modern stunt?
Spoiler: It’s Concrete, Not Classical
Enter Theotokis Theodoulou, head of the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities of Crete, to crush dreams gently. The statue, he confirmed, is not ancient — it is one of several concrete creations placed intentionally by local diving centers to make the underwater world more engaging.
“These are modern installations designed to add interest and life to the seabed,” Theodoulou explained. “They are placed at shallow depths mainly for aesthetic and educational purposes.”
In other words, it is part of a deliberate effort to turn the seafloor into something between an art gallery and a fish condo.
Crete’s Submerged Sculptures
This is not the first time divers have stumbled upon man-made curiosities in Hersonissos. In recent years, statues — including a lion, reportedly guarding the sand like a mythic sentinel — have appeared across local dive spots.
The initiative, according to experts, is meant to:
- Encourage marine biodiversity by creating artificial reefs.
- Offer visual points of interest for beginner divers.
- Promote underwater tourism without damaging natural habitats.
So next time you dive off Crete and bump into a marble look-alike, do not rush to call the archaeologists. Chances are, it is not Atlantis — it is just Hersonissos getting creative again.
