GB copy of ENCOUNTERS
DISCOVERIES
PASSION ABOUT DISCOVERING WRECKSIN MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Discovering the world and its particularities, which vary from one continent to another,
is also an opportunity for unique experiences and enriching encounters as with scuba diving and wreck discovery enthusiasts that I have met in 2022 as part of research
carried out in this fascinating country that is Crete.
Crete is an island, it is worth emphasizing, which fascinates both by the beauty and the diversity of its landscapes in
addition to the richness of its culture and its storyand my stay which spanned from September 9 to 16, 2022 remains a
fabulous memory completed by my meetings with the members of the Mediterranean Sea Divers of Heraklion which
organizes dives on sites in particular along the north coast of
the island. We board at the port of LA CANEE city located
in the northwest part of the island which is great with its architecture embellished with narrow streets and typical
harmoniously flowered houses completed by a lighthouse dating from the 16th century, a true witness of the Venetian
influences,
egyptians and Ottomans. During our crossing, we had the pleasure of being accompanied surrounded by
dolphins that miraculously come out of the ocean with agile gestures and
ceremoniousbefore arriving on the correspon-
ding dive sites."For many years, scuba diving in Greece and Crete was framed by many restrictions in order to preserve
the underwater remains and avoid looting of antiques" Dimitri tell me while preparing his diving equipment with the
group of 3 divers who will accompany him in these blues and lights waters which offer optimal diving conditions.
"In parallel of our wrecks search and visualization operations, we also come across a rich and diversified including
great seaweeds,small corals or sumptuous octopuses that is pleasant to meet.Our dives which lead us to depths ranging
from 6 to meters deep founder are always under the responsibility of what we call a Divemaster who manage the group
in parallel with the certification of the wrecks located. Our projects are regulated and piloted in close cooperation with
the authorities taking into account its heritage, cultural and historical "
Dimitri tell me before joining his group.
Substantial Research Projects
The sea, a precious source for man in parallel with its food and ecological specificities, in particular in the regulation and
influence of the climate through its currents, also fascinates by its possibilities of discovery in depth that has been prac-
ticed since prehistoric times in that we called apnea diving technical which preceded the processes scuba diving in
addition to current equipment allowing immersions in safety conditions ." The particularities of our research projects do
not only concern antiquities or vestiges which date from past centuries as well as from more distant times"
tell me
Constantin member of the Dimitri group whom I find at the back of the sailboat after a 3 hours dive. " Recent history,
particularly during the period of the Second World War in the Mediterranean basin also allows us to find traces of this
period which have a substantial heritage value in parallel with historical data and to quote you an example we found in
2016, and this buried under meters of sand and algae accumulated for years ,a British Spitfire plane shot down by the
German army in 1944".
Covering a range of experience levels which goes from the beginner to the most experienced,
the dives in the Cretan waters also have a particularity which is the night dive which allows, in addition to the surreal
magic of underwater colors and shapes, the possibility of discovering view the depths of the Mediterranean basin from
a different angle. This vast space that is the Mediterranean sea is a paradise table for lovers of authenticity that is also
great to discover in its submerged part and which can only delight adventure enthusiasts in the discovery of the Crete.
Report : Gabriel PAGE
Photos Credit: Gabriel PAGE / Mediterranean Sea Divers
