A 76-year-old French woman died on Sunday after being found unconscious in the sea off Kalathas Beach in the Akrotiri area of Chania.
The Chania Port Authority was alerted in the morning and emergency services were called to the scene. The woman was taken by ambulance to Chania General Hospital, where her death was confirmed despite efforts to save her.
The Central Port Authority of Chania is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and conducting a preliminary inquiry.
A forensic examination and autopsy have also been ordered as part of the investigation into the cause of death.
At this stage, authorities have not released further details about what happened in the water.