The regulation governing the operation of Accessible Underwater Archaeological Sites (AUAS) establishes the framework for conducting dives in protected underwater archaeological areas. Its purpose is to ensure the proper management of these sites, safeguard cultural heritage, and guarantee the safety of visitor-divers.

The regulation includes specific provisions on prerequisites for participating in guided diving visits, access restrictions, the obligations of diving service providers, and the safety measures that must be observed.

1. In the Accessible Underwater Archaeological Site (AUAS) of Peristera, Alonissos, guided autonomous or free diving takes place at pre-scheduled times, with a predetermined total and bottom time, and is conducted only by one recreational diving services provider per session.

2. Guided dives at the AUAS of Peristera are conducted in accordance with the National Recreational Diving Standards as per Article 2 of Law 3409/2005 (A’273), as applicable, and the European Recreational Diving Standards, with the following additional restrictions:

α) Ο μέγιστος αριθμός δυτών – επισκεπτών ανά επίσκεψη είναι οκτώ (8).

b) Each group of diver-visitors must be accompanied, without exception, by at least one certified dive guide specifically qualified for AUAS areas, meeting the requirements set forth in paragraph 5, Article 6 of Law 4688/2020 (A’ 101).

c) For every four (4) autonomous diver-visitors, there must be an accompanying dive guide, either a recreational diving service provider or their staff, holding certified diving instructor credentials in accordance with Article 9 of Law 3409/2005 (A’ 273), as in force.

3. To participate in a guided dive at depths greater than minus eighteen (-18) meters, divers must meet the following conditions:

• Hold a valid certification in autonomous or free diving allowing dives to at least thirty (30) meters.
• For scuba divers: Have completed at least one dive in the preceding days, or a trial dive, as evidenced by their personal dive log. This condition is waived for divers holding an instructor-level certification, provided they have logged at least one dive in the past year. Divers holding certifications allowing dives only up to eighteen (18) or twenty (20) meters are prohibited from exceeding minus eighteen (-18) meters. Such dives may only occur on specific days and times in coordination with authorized personnel of the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities (EUA).

4. Recreational diving service providers are responsible for ensuring compliance with the above participation requirements by all divers and guides. They are accountable for the safety and health of both divers and accompanying personnel.

5. Divers must maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 meters from the seabed and 1 meter from underwater finds. Touching any finds, underwater signage, monitoring cameras, or other installed infrastructure is strictly prohibited. Providers are responsible for ensuring these rules are respected. Violations are subject to penalties under Laws 3028/2002 (A’153) and 4688/2020 (A’101), as applicable.

6. Recreational (amateur) photography is permitted for personal, non-commercial use in accordance with Laws 3028/2002 (Α’ 153) and 4688/2020 (Α’ 101). Professional photography or filming is subject to Laws 3028/2002 (Α’ 153) as applicable and relevant ministerial decisions of the Ministry of Culture.

7. The AUAS is monitored via underwater cameras for site protection, in accordance with Directive 1/2011 of the Hellenic Data Protection Authority, which regulates the use of video surveillance for the protection of persons and property. The EUA retains video data for 15 days, unless a violation is detected, in which case it is maintained until the conclusion of any criminal or administrative proceedings.

8. All embarkation/disembarkation for dives takes place at Steni Vala, Alonissos. Recreational diving vessels must dock there before and after the dive. Approaching any other shore area or vessel during the visit is strictly prohibited.

9. The AUAS operates in accordance with the annual schedules set by the relevant Ministerial Decisions governing museums and organized archaeological sites. It remains closed on official holidays. Visits take place only during predefined visiting hours, and providers are required to submit, before the visit, the number and names of the divers and their accompanying diving guides. This data is retained solely for statistical purposes, in full compliance with data protection regulations.

10. Joint Ministerial Decision of the Ministers of Finance and Culture and Sports determines the entrance fee. The fee is paid by recreational diving service providers to the Hellenic Organization of Cultural Resources Development (HOCRED) before the visit.

11. Diving operations are suspended and the site remains closed in the event of a relevant announcement by the EUA, including:

• Sailing bans issued by the Port Authority
• Strong local winds (south or southwest) of 5 Beaufort or higher
• Rainstorms with lightning threats
• Any condition that renders supervision impossible or poses a threat to the safety of the underwater archaeological site

12. Before the visit, divers must complete and submit a declaration of acknowledgment confirming they have been informed of the terms and conditions for diving at the AUAS Peristera, under the responsibility of their diving service provider.

13. The passage of vessels over the AUAS of Peristera during operating hours is governed by Law 3409/2005, relevant announcements of the Hydrographic Service, and instructions from the competent Port Authority.

14. The use of mooring buoys installed around the AUAS of Peristera is prohibited for purposes unrelated to the operation of the site.

15. For any issue concerning the operation of the AUAS of Peristera, interested parties must contact the EUA, which is the managing authority of these sites.

1. In the Accessible Underwater Archaeological Sites (AUAS) of Tilegrafos, Kikinthos, and Glaros, located in the Regional Unit of Magnesia, Western Pagasetic Gulf, guided scuba or free diving takes place at pre-scheduled times, with a predetermined total duration and bottom time, and is conducted by only one recreational diving services provider per site and per session.

2. Guided dives in the above-mentioned AUAS of the Western Pagasetic Gulf are conducted in accordance with the National Recreational Diving Standards under Article 2 of Law 3409/2005 (A’ 273) and the European Recreational Diving Standards, with the following additional restrictions:

a) The maximum number of diver-visitors per visit and per site in the AUAS is eight (8).

b) Each group of diver-visitors must be accompanied, without exception, by at least one certified dive guide specifically qualified for AUAS areas, meeting the requirements outlined in paragraph 5, Article 6 of Law 4688/2020 (A’101).

c) For every four (4) scuba diver-visitors, there must be an accompanying dive guide, either a recreational diving service provider or their staff, holding certified diving instructor credentials in accordance with Article 9 of Law 3409/2005 ( A’273), as in force.

3. To participate in a guided visit to the AUAS of the Western Pagasetic Gulf, the following are required:

• If the diver wishes to dive in areas of the AUAS at depths less than minus eighteen (-18) meters, such as AUAS Kikynthos and routes P2 and P4 at AUAS Glaros, they must hold an autonomous or free diving certificate that confirms the capability to dive to at least eighteen (18) meters.
• If the diver wishes to dive in areas of the AUAS at depths greater than minus eighteen (-18) meters, such as AUAS Tilegrafos and routes P1 and P3 at AUAS Glaros, they must hold a certificate for autonomous or free diving that confirms the capability to dive to at least minus thirty (-30) meters.
• Scuba divers must have completed at least one (1) dive in the previous days or a trial dive, as evidenced by the diver’s logbook. This condition is waived for divers holding an instructor-level certification, provided they have completed at least one dive in the past year, documented in their dive log.
• In cases where scuba or free divers hold certifications permitting dives up to only eighteen (18) or twenty (20) meters, dives may not exceed a depth of minus eighteen (-18) meters. They shall take place only on specified days and times, as coordinated with the designated personnel of the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities (EUA).

4. Recreational diving service providers are responsible for verifying and ensuring compliance with the above conditions before, during, and after dives in the AUAS of the Western Pagasetic Gulf, for both autonomous and free divers and their guides. They are also responsible for their safety and health.

5. During the visit, divers are not permitted to approach closer than one and a half (1.5) meters from the seabed or closer than one (1) meter from archaeological finds. To protect and preserve the AUAS sites and their materials, visitors-divers are strictly prohibited from touching the finds, underwater signs, surveillance cameras, or any installed site infrastructure. Recreational diving service providers are responsible for ensuring that the divers they accompany adhere to these rules. Violators are subject to penalties in accordance with Law 4858/2021 (A’ 220) and Law 4688/2020 (A’ 101).

6. Recreational (amateur) photography for personal and non-commercial use is permitted, in accordance with the provisions of Laws 4858/2021 (A’ 220) and 4688/2020 (A’ 101). Professional photography or filming is governed by Law 4858/2021 (A’ 220) and the relevant ministerial decisions of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

7. The AUAS sites are monitored via camera surveillance systems for the protection of the underwater archaeological area, in accordance with Directive 1/2011 on “The use of video surveillance systems for the protection of persons and property” of the Hellenic Data Protection Authority. Data is retained by the EUA and is destroyed within fifteen (15) days of the date of the guided visit, except in cases where the data documents a violation of Laws 4858/2021 (A’ 220) and 4688/2020 (A’ 101) or related regulatory acts issued under their authority. In such cases, data is retained until the conclusion of any criminal or administrative proceedings as provided for by those laws.

8. The designated embarkation/disembarkation point is Amaliapoli, Almyros, Volos. Vessels used for recreational diving must dock at the pier of Amaliapoli, Almyros, Volos—where the EUA unit is stationed—before the diving visit and return to the same point after the visit. It is strictly prohibited to approach any other point on land or another vessel during their presence at the AUAS of Tilegrafos, Kikinthos, and Glaros.

9. The site operates on the days and hours established annually by the relevant ministerial decisions regarding the operation of museums and organized archaeological sites, and remains closed on official public holidays. Visits are conducted at pre-scheduled times, also set annually by the above ministerial decisions. Recreational diving service providers are required to submit, before the visit, the names and contact information of the divers and their accompanying diving guides. This information is stored in the EUA’s records for statistical purposes only, in full compliance with data protection laws.

10. The entrance fee is determined by the joint decision of the Ministers of Finance and of Culture and Sports. It is paid for by the recreational diving services providers to the Hellenic Organization of Cultural Resources Development (HOCRED) for each visitor before the visit. For these specific AUAS sites, which are in a pilot operation phase for the first two years (2022–2023), admission is free of charge. After the two-year pilot period, the admission fee set by the Ministries will apply.

11. Diving operations are suspended and the site remains closed in the event of a relevant announcement by the EUA, including:

• Sailing bans issued by the Port Authority
• If strong local winds, from the North or Northeast, of five (5) Beaufort or greater are blowing.
• Rainstorms with lightning threats
• Any condition that renders supervision impossible or poses a threat to the safety of the underwater archaeological site

12. Before the visit, and under the responsibility of the accompanying recreational diving services provider, diver-visitors must complete a Declaration of Awareness confirming they have been informed of the terms and conditions for diving in the AUAS of the Western Pagasetic Gulf, which shall be submitted to the designated EUA personnel.

13. The passage of vessels over the AUAS of the Western Pagasetic Gulf during operational hours is subject to Law 3409/2005 (A’ 273), the relevant announcements of the Hydrographic Service, and the instructions of the competent Port Authority.

14. The use of mooring buoys within the AUAS is not permitted for any purposes unrelated to the operation of the sites.

15. For any issue concerning the operation of the AUAS, interested parties must contact the EUA, which is the managing authority of these sites.