Psari Forada in Viannos is about to make a splash. The Greek Ministry of Tourism has officially approved a €220,891 investment for a brand-new diving park, transforming the south Cretan coast into a magnet for underwater adventurers.
The project, romantically titled “Creation of a Free Artificial Underwater Attraction in the Municipality of Viannos,” aims to blend marine conservation with tourism — or, as locals might put it, “to make the sea earn her living.”
An Investment With Depth
Proposed by the Municipality of Viannos and funded through the Recovery and Resilience Fund, the plan falls under the “Diving and Underwater Tourism” program — a mouthful of a title for something that basically means “let’s put Crete on the scuba map.”
The park will be located off Kalamio Community, near Psari Forada, in waters already known for their clarity, gentle currents, and occasional curious octopus.
Officials describe the project as a model of sustainable tourism, combining environmental protection, education, and local economic growth. In simpler terms: fewer umbrellas, more bubbles.
The news brought visible relief to Viannos officials, who’ve been trying to push the idea for years. After endless paperwork, studies, and “positive opinions” from every possible department, the plan finally surfaced.
“This is a major step toward sustainable tourism in southern Crete,” said a municipal representative, visibly fighting the urge to high-five a diver.
If all goes smoothly, the project will soon see the installation of eco-friendly underwater structures designed to attract marine life — and divers with GoPros.
Why Psari Forada?
Because it’s the kind of place you stumble upon and never want to leave. A strip of dark sand between the Asterousia Mountains and the Libyan Sea, Psari Forada has remained blissfully low-key while the north of Crete got crowded.
Adding a diving park here means visitors can explore both worlds at once — the rugged beauty above and the living museum below. Expect colorful reefs, artificial reefs, and perhaps a few shipwreck stories to come.
Crete’s Underwater Revolution
The Psari Forada park joins a growing wave of diving initiatives across Greece, as the country embraces eco-tourism and marine heritage as its new calling cards. With the sea as its oldest asset, Crete is now betting on experiences that last longer than a tan.
Tour operators are already eyeing collaborations, local businesses expect a fresh current of visitors, and Viannos might soon find itself hosting scuba enthusiasts who speak every language under the sun.
For now, the Mediterranean sleeps quietly off Psari Forada — but not for long. Soon, bubbles, coral, and camera flashes will shimmer beneath the surface, turning this corner of the Libyan Sea into a living postcard.
Crete is diving not just for tourists, but for sustainability, authenticity, and adventure. Because when the world finally looks below the surface, it always finds the island waiting.
