The waters around Kastellorizo, Ro, and Strongyli form one of the quietest marine corridors of the eastern Mediterranean. Not quiet because life is absent — but because most of it moves just below the surface, on its own terms.
Sometimes we see it when the engine stops. Sometimes it appears only once, and never again.
Caretta caretta — the loggerhead turtle
The loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, is one of the most familiar species in these waters.
Although it nests on sandy beaches across Greece (Zakynthos, Crete, Rhodes, Kyparissia), Kastellorizo itself does not provide nesting grounds. Still, the surrounding sea is part of its wider feeding and migration routes.
It is not unusual to see them inside the harbour or just outside it, especially in the early hours of the day.
We ask guests to keep a simple rule in mind: no feeding, ever.
Turtles that are fed by humans can begin to associate boats and people with food, which changes their natural behaviour. In busy periods, especially around harbour areas, this can also lead to them approaching swimmers or boats more closely than they normally would.
This is not aggression — just learned behaviour.
For their safety and ours, the best response is always the same: observe quietly and let them move on naturally.
If a turtle comes close while you are swimming, a calm, gentle movement away is enough to guide distance without stress. No sudden actions are needed.
In rare cases, there have been minor incidents in other regions when turtles became overly habituated to human feeding. This is exactly why keeping natural distance matters.
Monachus monachus — the Mediterranean monk seal
The Mediterranean monk seal, Monachus monachus, remains one of the rarest marine mammals in the world.
Encounters around Kastellorizo are occasional and usually brief — a shape in the water near a cave entrance, a head surfacing for a few seconds before disappearing again.
These animals depend on silence and space. If seen, the most important thing is simply to avoid approach and give them room. They will always leave on their own terms.
Pterois miles — the lionfish
The lionfish, Pterois miles, is a more recent arrival in the Mediterranean, having entered through the Suez Canal and spread across the eastern basin over the last decade.
It is a striking species — long fins, red-and-white patterning, almost ornamental in appearance — but it carries venomous spines along its dorsal rays. The venom is defensive, not aggressive, and contact is rare in normal swimming conditions, but it is worth being aware of when exploring rocky areas or diving close to the seabed.
At the same time, lionfish are now part of a broader ecological challenge in the region, as they have few natural predators in the Mediterranean and can affect native fish populations.
If we stop, we have to…
During our trips, we encounter large amounts of rubbish floating in the water.
What do we do?
We stop and collect every single piece we can reach.
Plastic bottles, fragments of bags, fishing line, floating packaging — if we see it, we remove it. Protecting the environment around Kastellorizo is part of every journey we make.
We do it together with our guests, and that shared responsibility creates a bond that often lasts long after the trip ends.
We also inform everyone onboard to be especially careful when it comes to respect toward wildlife, the coastline, and the sea itself.
The eastern Mediterranean already carries one of the highest concentrations of marine plastic in Europe. A floating bag mistaken for food can kill a turtle. A discarded fishing line can injure a seal or seabird.
Small actions matter here.
Natura 2000 — protected waters
The marine area around Kastellorizo, Ro, and Strongyli is part of the Natura 2000 network (GR4210003), protecting key habitats such as Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows.
We avoid anchoring on seagrass and operate only on sand or rock where possible, reducing impact on this essential underwater ecosystem.
A quiet responsibility
There is no performance in any of this.
The sea here is shared — between species that have lived here for millennia and people who pass through for a few hours.
When you sail with us, you move inside that balance.
