Eco Sailing and Diving holidays in Greece
Discover the unique wildlife and nature of the Aegean and Ionian
Seas! Join a team of environmentalists on an exciting journey through
the waters that surround the largest coastline in Europe...
The concept was inspired by a team of sailors, divers, biologists
and environmentalists who were brought together due to their love
of the sea and nature.
Their primary objective is the study and protection of the marine
world and the raising of public awareness on environmental issues.
They have formed a series of eco activities involving sailing, diving
and exploring unique species in order to support their work the
rest of the year.
When Tahita is not chartered, the team sail around cleaning beaches,
recycling or giving a helping hand to researchers and organisations
in their efforts to study and protect the environment and wild life.
The sailing boat Tahita and her crew invite you to experience an
unforgettable journey of discovery.
You'll discover deserted beaches, species that don't exist anywhere
else in the globe, islands that don't appear on any map and secret
doors that lead to a Mediterranean ''reality'' not mentioned in any
travel agency brochure or the Lonely Planet!
Whether you enjoy relaxing on deck with a cold drink... feeling the
wind and trimming the sails... getting into the unspoilt lifestyle
of the islanders... exploring the underwater life or spotting sperm
whales and dolphins... you'll experience what you're looking for!
 Discover
the unique wild life and nature of the Greek islands and participate
in our efforts to protect and support the local environment.
Celebrities under extinction like the sea turtle Caretta caretta,
the seal Monachus monachus, and endemic species like the Milos Wall
Lizard Podarcis milensis and the Milos Viper Macrovipera hanschweizeri
are waiting for you to discover them and aid their survival.
Whale and dolphin spotting, trekking through untouched paths exploring
unique species, applying simple ecology methods to field, are only
a few of the activities in which you could participate during this
sailing trip. Under the guidance of an experienced team of biologists
you will be introduced to the tens of endemic species, both from the
animal and plant kingdoms, which exist only in this small corner of
the globe... …while sailing and relaxing on beautiful bays enjoying
the Greek sun and local island life.
You didn't know there
were sperm whales in Greece? Watch the video...
Sperm
Whales in Greece
We're as flexible as the weather!
The above itineraries are just examples of what you can experience
in Greece. Send us details of the islands you wish to visit, where
you wish to finish you trip and let's work together to create the
ideal journey for you.
The skipper is highly experienced and happy to adjust the trip according
to what you are looking for in your holiday, of course, if the weather
and other external factors beyond his control permit it. And never
forget that those ''unexpected'' surprises can often be the highlight
of your trip!
Diving Cruises
Discover the unique wealth that hides in the magical depths of the
East Med while sailing with Tahita from one diving site to the other.
Combine a sailing and diving adventure in the Aegean or Ionian Sea.
Witness the non-touristy side of the Greek islands. Experience shipwrecks,
cliffs, caves, walls reefs... traces of ancient civilizations... and
of course the spectacular biodiversity of our waters which can't wait
to meet your bubbles!
Crystal clear blue waters with spectacular visibility up to 30-40
meters. Gorgonians, corals, colourful sponges, starfishes, nudibranches
and tube worms, sea anemonies are some of the 'micro' attractions
you will encounter. The king of hunters, Barracuda... the master of
disguises, Scorpion fish... the Brazilian carnavalist, the Parrot
fish... groupers, moray eels, octopuses... are all there for you to
spot them in rock formations and meadows of sea grass. Don't be surprised
if our route crosses with dolphins, the loggerhead turtle or the Monk
Seal!
Before our dives our trained crew who will be your guides will give
you a presentation on the wonders of biodiversity and marine ecology.
Pictures and videos will be taken so that we can discuss after each
dive what we've seen.
Tahita is fully equipped to accommodate up to 5 licensed divers (PADI
Open Water, CMAS One Star Diver). The skipper and crew are licensed
PADI Divemasters and will guide you through this journey into the
big blue.
Apart from the excitement of sailing through the unspoilt little
islands of the Aegean, you will enjoy 5 unique dives, including a
wreck and a night dive.
The Diving Cruises will include 5 dives in a week, full equipment,
an introduction to marine biodiversity and ecology and a guide through
the diving sites.
Click
here to read more about Diving Cruises and Underwater Photography
cruises
Click here to read about our sailing, hiking and trekking cruises in the small Cyclades.
Meet the Team
Skipper Sotiris Diamantis
 Sotiris was born in Essen, Germany on 9th January 1974. He has been
skippering professionally for the last 10 years throughout the Aegean,
Ionian, Adriatic and Central Mediterranean seas as well as the Atlantic
and Indian Oceans. He has some 40,000 miles of sailing on his record.
Sotiris has also been maintaining both wooden and fiberglass boats
for the last nine years.
Sotiris started diving in the Red Sea 10 years ago and eventually
became a Divemaster in Thailand in 2002. He is also trained to give
first aid and rescue assistance.
Sotiris speaks fluently German, English and Spanish and also basic
French.
Dive Instructor / Deck - hand / Cooking Annie Antonatou
 Annie
was born in Athens, on 31st August 1973. Her great love and interest
in the marine world brought her together with the rest of the Mystic
Blue crew. Annie started her career in marketing and publishing but
soon after she started sailing 5 years ago, she hasn't looked back!
You will find her on the deck trimming the sails, or downstairs preparing
such delicacies that the sea offers.
Annie is RYA qualified (Day Skipper) and has sailed around 10,000
miles in the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sea. She's a keen diver
and PADI qualified (Rescue Diver & Divemaster). She's dived in
Belize, Thailand, the Red Sea and the Society Islands in the Pacific
but the Mediterranean Sea is her passion. Annie is the person to talk
to in case you have any queries with regards to our activities and
trips. She's in charge of communications and she'll be very glad to
hear from you.
Annie speaks fluent English and basic Italian and French.
Biologist / Dr Panayiotis Pafilis
 Panayiotis
is the scientist of the Mystic Blue crew who will introduce you to
the unique fauna of the Ionian and Aegean Seas.
Panayiotis was born on the 5th of December 1973. After acquiring
his degree in Biology in 1997, he continued with a PhD Thesis in Animal
Physiology (2003). His great interest and expertise lies on environmental
physiology and insular ecology in Mediterranean ecosystems. Throughout
the year, he travels in the Aegean and Ionian Sea taking part in researches
and studies of the local wildlife and ecology organized by universities
and various NGOs.
He's a member of the Hellenic Zoological Society, the British Herpetological
Society, the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, the
American Society of Ichthyology and Herpetology, the Hellenic Society
for the Protection of the Environment and National Heritage, Asociacion
Herpetologica Espanola, Societas Hellenica Herpetologica, Medecins
Sans Frontieres, WWF and the Society for the Study and Protection
of the Mediterranean Seal. Panayiotis has also participated in the
translation and in the writing of scientific books and he has been
writing articles for the Greek magazines (Rom, Geotropio, Discovery
and Science, In.gr) since 1998. He has also published original papers
in scientific journals and he has participated in several international
congresses concerning Biology.
He speaks fluently English, French and Spanish.
Environmental Researcher - Melita Lazaratou
 Melita
was born on March 21st 1979 in Athens. Her interest in the causes
of human and animal behaviour and their interaction with the environment
determined the selection of her studies and professional orientation.
After completing her studies in Psychology she studied Applied Animal
Behaviour and Welfare in the University of Edinburgh. Her love for
cetaceans motivated her to specialise in them and through her postgraduate
thesis she studied the effect of whale watching on minke whales in
cooperation with the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust.
Motivated by her interest and respect towards wildlife she has participated
in the work of environmental NGOs for the protection and conservation
of the natural environment. She has participated in programs of the
Hellenic Cetacean Research and Conservation Society as well as the
Hellenic Ornithological Society. She was in charge of operations in
the Peloponnese region for ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society
of Greece, and she has been heading projects for the Mediterranean
SOS Network.
Melita speaks English fluently and also a little bit of French.
Environmentalist - Maria Salomidi
 Maria
was born in Athens, on 6th September, 1974. Spending her summer vacations
in the island of Crete ever since she was a child, she readily got
hooked on the beauty of the sea and its amazing inhabitants.
She studied Environmental Sciences at the University of the Aegean
and it was no surprise that she finished with a Thesis on the ecology
of the coastal environment.
Since 1999, she has been working on various projects of the Hellenic
Center for Marine Research and has participated in several International
Congresses and Oceanographic Cruises. Taking advantage of European
and National scholarships, she was given the chance to work with eminent
oceanographers and marine biologists in France (Centre d' Oceanologie
de Marseille, COM), Italy (Dipartimento di Biologia - Universita degli
studi di Lecce), Germany (IFM?GEOMAR) and Ukraine (Institute of Biology
of the Southern Seas, IBSS).
She is presently finishing a PhD on the ecological quality assessment
of coastal waters by estimating anthropogenic impact on benthic bioindicators.
Mediterranean Biodiversity, Integrated Coastal Zone Management and
Public Awareness in the Protection of the Marine Environment lie also
among her strong scientific interests.
Being a PADI Rescue Diver and having logged about 200 scientific
and recreational dives both in Greece and abroad, she's eager to take
you for a wet stroll into the discreet beauty of the inspiring Mediterranean
Marine Realm.
Maria speaks English and French and makes a good-faith effort to
understand Italian and Spanish!
Dive Instructor / Nassos Zervopoulos
 Nassos
was born in Athens on 13th October 1974. He studied Business Administration
in Boston University (1992-1997) and then worked in the travel industry
for several years.
Nassos started diving in 1997. In 2002 he became a Divemaster and
a bit later an Instructor. He has dived in several places around the
world but most of his time underwater was spent in Thailand (Similan
Islands) and Lefkas, Greece. Nassos is also an underwater photographer
(PADI & SDI) and a Technical Diver. He's qualified for Advanced
Nitrox Diving (TDI), Decompression Procedures Diving (TDI), and currently
he's training in entry level and advanced Trimix.
Nassos is a qualified skipper (NONKE), a Windsurf Instructor (RYA)
and an Emergency First Response Instructor (PADI).
Nassos speaks fluently English and French, and he communicates decently
in Italian.
Marine Scientist and Underwater Photographer / Yiannis Issaris
 Yiannis
was born in Athens, on 27th of April 1981. While studying Marine Sciences
at the University of the Aegean, he was given the opportunity to get
acquainted with the world of silence and it's no wonder that he got
addicted to the beauty of the underwater realm.
Since then, the inner need for expressing his awe for the marine
environment has inevitably driven his path to underwater photography
and videography, as a means to perceive The Grace of the Life Aquatic.
You can check his photo gallery at www.yissaris.com
He is currently attending classes for a Masters course on Marine
Science and Technology and will soon start a PhD on Autonomous Underwater
Vehicle (AUV) Navigation.
Over the years he has performed numerous underwater surveys for Greek
Research Institutes and published related papers and posters at National
Congresses. Among his scientific interests lie the study and protection
of the Marine Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea, Coastal Geomorphology,
Deep Sea Exploration, Extreme Underwater Environments and Underwater
Vehicle Technology.
Yiannis is a fluent speaker of English and of basic German, a seasoned
PADI Rescue diver, and an adept hand at Photoshop and other image
processing programs.
Diving Instructor and Videographer - George Delveroudis
George Delveroudis was born in Athens, Greece in 1972. He studied
physics in the University of Athens but the sea stole his heart.
He dives professionally since 1998 both as a recreational diving
instructor and commercial diver. During his carrier he has conducted
numerous dives throughout the world (Mexico, Maldives, Malaysia, Indonesia,
Thailand, Egypt and of course Greece) escorting diving groups.
His diving credentials include the third highest instructor rank
in the PADI system (IDC Staff Instructor), UW Photography, Nitrox,
Deep Diver & Night Diver Specialty Instructor, One Star CMAS Instructor
and an EFR First Aid Instructor. George has instructed more than 1,500
divers in all levels.
He has published several travelling journals in Greek diving magazines
and his passion is underwater videography and editing. You can see
samples of his work at www.youtube.com/geodive
George speaks English fluently.
Click
here for information about the boat.
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Odyssey
Sailing is officially registered and bonded with the Greek National
Tourist Organisation (GNTO - EOT). Licence Number : 00015 and is a
member of the Hellenic Yacht Brokers Association (HYBA). |
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