Cyclades-Greece
Ocean observatory

Your portal to The Cyclades underwater world

The Observatory SCIENCE CENTRE
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Welcome to the Cyclades Ocean Observatory, where you can meet extraordinary marine life and explore the spectacular habitats found beneath the waves. 

The Cyclades Islands are located in the Aegean Sea, southeast of mainland Greece. Their clear blue waters are home to a rich diversity of marine life, including more than 200 fish species, loggerhead sea turtles, numerous bird species such as the rare Aegean gull, bottlenose, striped and Risso’s dolphins, as well as the endangered Mediterranean monk seal and sperm whale.

Take a dive into the Cyclades underwater world and learn how to observe and monitor this changing sea.

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The
Observatory

Through this underwater video archive, you can swim with enchanting marine life, explore the breathtaking world under the waves and examine the magical marine habitats found within the The Cyclades waters.

Fish

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Red Mullet

Scientific name: Mullus barbatus
Location: Kamari Beach
Depth: 3.2m
Size: Its slender body measures around 20 cm, though some specimens can grow up to 40 cm!
Fact: Red mullets often change colour to blend in with their surroundings, making them excellent at camouflage. Red mullets are benthic feeders, foraging on small invertebrates like crustaceans, molluscs, and worms. Their barbels detect prey hidden in the seabed. They feed primarily during the day and vary their diet with the season and habitat. 
Video credit: Dimitris Kambanos (Dive in Action)
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Black Scorpion Fish

Scientific name: Scorpaena porcus
Location: Caldera Beach
Depth: 4.5m
Size: It has a large head with sharp ridges and spines and a relatively short body, measuring 15 to 30 cm long.
Fact: Black Scorpion Fish are ambush predators, feeding on small fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. They remain motionless, relying on their camouflage to avoid detection before striking their prey with lightning speed. Black Scorpion Fish are infamous for their venomous spines, which can cause painful stings if touched. The venom, while rarely fatal, can lead to swelling, pain, and, in extreme cases, tissue damage.
Video credit: Dimitris Kambanos (Dive in Action)
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Grouper

Scientific name: Epinephelus marginatus
Location: Kamari Beach
Depth: 16.7m
Size: Groupers can grow to impressive sizes, with some reaching over 1 meter in length and weighing up to about 60 kg!
Fact: Groupers are known for their ability to change sex. They start life as females and turn into males as they grow larger. Grouper species are carnivorous and have a varied diet that consists mainly of fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods. They are ambush predators, waiting for prey to pass by before using their powerful jaws to create suction and quickly swallow their meal whole. Groupers are opportunistic hunters and will consume almost anything that fits into their mouths. Some larger species are known to hunt smaller groupers or even lobsters.
Video credit: Dimitris Kambanos (Dive in Action)
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Greater Amberjack

Scientific name: Seriola dumerili
Location: Caldera Beach
Depth: 7.3m
Size: The fish can grow up to 180 cm in length and weigh over 70 kg, making it one of the largest members of the jack family.
Fact: Greater Amberjacks are known for their streamlined bodies and powerful swimming abilities. They have a distinctive dark stripe running from their nose to the front of their dorsal fin. These fish are known for their migratory patterns, often traveling long distances between feeding and spawning grounds. They are also known to form large schools, especially during the breeding season.
Video credit: Giannis Chavakis
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Common Sole

Scientific name: Solea solea
Location: Caldera Beach
Depth: 5.5m
Size: The standard sole grows to a length of 35–60 cm, with some larger specimens reaching up to 70 cm.
Fact: They are masters of disguise, changing their colouration to match the seabed, and burying themselves in the sand with only their eyes protruding to ambush prey. Both of their eyes are on the right side of their body, a common trait in flatfish.
Video credit: Dimitris Kambanos (Dive in Action)
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European Barracuda

Scientific name: Spyraena sphyraena
Location: Caldera Beach
Depth: 21m
Size: Barracudas can grow up to 1.5 meters in length and weigh around 12 kg, making them formidable hunters and apex predators.
Fact: Barracudas are opportunistic carnivores, feeding on smaller fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Their sharp teeth and rapid swimming speed of up to 43 km/h allow them to ambush prey with precision. They are known for their ability to cut prey cleanly in half with a single bite.
Video credit: Dimitris Kambanos (Dive in Action)
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Parrotfish

Scientific name: Sparisoma cretense
Location: Caldera Beach
Depth: 16m
Size: Grows up to 30-40 cm
Fact: Herbivorous by nature, parrotfish feed primarily on algae and seagrass. Their grazing activity prevents algal overgrowth, which can smother coral reefs and seagrass meadows, making them crucial for ecosystem health. Parrotfish contribute to sand production by grinding algae-covered rocks and excreting fine sand. 
Video credit: Dimitris Kambanos (Dive in Action)

Turtles

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Green turtle

Scientific name: Chelonia mydas
Location: Naxos
Size: Adult green turtles in the Mediterranean reaches length between 83 and 114 cm and weigh from 110 to 190 kg
Fact: Green turtles in the Mediterranean can be divided into two groups: visitors from the Atlantic in the Western Mediterranean and the indigenous population in the Eastern Mediterranean. Both groups do not share the same foraging grounds. Within the Eastern Mediterranean greens, adults tend to forage off the coast of Türkiye, the Levant, and the coast of North Africa, while juveniles forage along the Peloponnesian coast of Greece and in the Southern Adriatic.
Conservation status: Endangered
Video credit: Naxos Wildlife Protection
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Loggerhead sea turtle

Scientific name: Caretta caretta
Location: Naxos
Size: Fully grown loggerhead measures at around 90cm long and weight approximately 135kg.
Fact: Loggerhead sea turtles feed mainly on bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Juvenile loggerheads forage in both deep oceanic and shallow continental shelf regions, while adults tend to forage only in shallow coastal waters of the Northern Adriatic and Tunisian shelf.
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Video credit: Naxos Wildlife Protection

Seabirds

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Audouin’s gull

Scientific name: Ichthyaetus audouinii
Size: Around 0.5m in length, with a wing span of 1.3m
Fact: Audouin’s gulls are present in Greece mainly during the breeding season, few individuals remain in the Aegean all year round. Adult birds settle to breed in colonies on uninhabited rocky islets with little vegetation. They feed on small fish and rarely on discards from fishing boats.
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Threats: The primary threat to Audouin’s gulls is reduced food availability due to overfishing and climate change. Human disturbance during the breeding season,  also negatively impacts the colony’s breeding success. Habitat degradation of breeding colonies and off-shore wind farms also pose significant threats.
Credits: Photo: Panagiotis Latsoudis (Ornithologiki) Video: Obirds
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Mediterranean shag

Scientific name: Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Size: They are about 0.75m in length with a wing span of 1m
Fact: The Mediterranean shag feeds mainly on fish which it catches at depths reaching 45. It is present in Greece all year round, and according to data from ringed individuals, can move locally up to 200 km away from their colony.
Conservation status: Least Concern
Threats: Mediterranean shags are susceptible to beign bycaught in fishing gear, especially nets set close to the shore, as they dive for fish. Overfishing and human disturbance also are considered significant threats for this species.
Credits: Photo: Aris Christidis (Ornithologiki) Video: KWildlife
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Scopoli’s shearwater

Scientific name: Calonectris diomedea
Size: The Scopoli’s shearwater is about 0.5m in length and 1.2m in wing span
Fact: While they breed in the Mediterranean on uninhabited islets and inaccessible cliffs, they spend their winter in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, travelling hundreds of kilometres a day across the open ocean! They prey on small fish and can dive up to 15m.
Conservation status: Least Concern
Threats: Most significant threat for the species is bycatch in fishing gear, especially longlines, as well as predation of eggs and chicks from invasive species, such as rats, on their breeding colonies. In addition, some colonies are also vulnerable to light pollution, which could disorient fledglings when leaving their breeding colony for the first time.
Credits: Photo:  Panagiotis Latsoudis (Ornithologiki/BirdLife Greece) Video: Robert Flood  
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Yelkouan shearwater

Scientific name: Puffinus yelkouan
Size: It is about 0.35m long and 0.85 in wing span
Fact: Yelkouan shearwaters spend most of their time in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean where they breed. Following the end of their breading season, a large part of its population migrates to the Black Sea through the Aegean Sea for the rich fishing grounds there. The Greek population also travels thousands of kilometres to the Black Sea during the breeding season.
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Threats: The most significant threat for the species is bycatch in fishing gear, especially trammel nets and longlines, in addition to predation of eggs and chicks from invasive species, such as rats, on their breeding colonies. The Yelkouan shearwater also faces many other common threats, including overfishing, habitat degradation of breeding colonies, off-shore wind farms light pollution, and pollution.
Credits: Photo: Aris Christidis (Ornithologiki/BirdLife Greece) Video: Danae Portolou (Ornithologiki/BirdLife Greece)

Habitats

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Seagrass bed

Other common name(s): Neptune grass
Scientific name: Posidonia Oceanica
Fact: Some Posidonia oceanica meadows are estimated to be over 100,000 years old, making them among the oldest living organisms on Earth! And a single specimen can extend up to 8 kilometres in length!
Learn more: Learn more about Posidonia Oceanica here and in the science centre!
Credits: Photo: Dimitris Poursanidis/ Video: Yiannis Issaris
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Rocky reef

Featured species: Monk seal
Fact: These reefs are typically made up of volcanic and limestone formations, shaped by centuries of wave and current activity. They extend from shallow coastal zones to deeper underwater slopes, providing complex structures that are perfect for marne life.
Video credit: Photo: Dimitris Poursanidis/ Video: MOm (Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal)

Monk Seals

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Mediterranean Monk Seal

Scientific name: Monachus monachus
Size: Adult seals can reach a length of 2.8 m and weigh as much as 300 kg
Fact: Monk seals can travel significant distances at sea in a short time period and dive to depths down to 200 m starting at a very young age!
Discover more: Head to the Science Centre to discover more on the Mediterranean Monk Seal and other marine megafaunas.
Video credit: MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal
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Pup

Size: Newborn pups are approximately 1m long when born and weigh 15 – 18 kg.
Fact: Monk seal pups have a black coat with a distinctive white or yellowish patch on the belly, the shape of which is unique in each individual!
Threats: Pups cannot survive alone and, when left unsupervised in the cave, face the risk of separation from their mother due to rough seas
Video credit: MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal
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Nursery

Description: A seal pup with its mother
Fact: The pupping season in Greece takes place from August to December with a peak in births during October. Lactation and nursing can last up to 5 months. During lactation, mothers do not fast and often leave their pups unattended in the maternal cave in search of food
Video credit: MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal

Cetaceans

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Striped dolphin

Scientific name: Stenella coeruleoalba
Size: It reaches up to 2.5 meters in length and weighs from 130 to 170 kg
Fact: Striped dolphin is easily recognised by its greyish and white stripes that start from the
eye area and spread along the dorsal and lateral sides of the body. Their groups vary from 20 to 200 dolphins and they feed at the depth of 200m to 700m.
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Credits: Photo: Arion/ Video: E.Akritopoulou, Marine Mammal Monitoring Unit UTH
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Bottlenose dolphin

Scientific name: Tursiops truncatus
Size: The size of an adult ranges between 1.9m to 4m. For calves, it is between 0.8m to 1.4m.
Fact: The species is widely distributed in all marine areas of Greece. They can dive to a maximum depth of 200m and travel with a speed up to 36km/h! It is easily identified by the shape of the dorsal fin, the dark greyish back and the white and eventually pink belly.
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Credits: Photo: C.Rantou Marine Mammal Monitoring Unit UTH/ Video: Marine Mammal Monitoring UTH / Arion
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Fin Whale

Scientific name: Balaenoptera physalus
Size: The maximum confirmed length of species is 25.9 m, while the maximum recorded weight is almost 74 tonnes!
Fact: Fin whale belongs to baleen whales and is a filter feeder. Its diet consists of small fish,
squid and crustaceans, including copepods and krill. It can swallow up to 70 cubic meters of water in one gulp. The species is the second largest species on Earth after the blue whale.
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Video credit: MOm/ CPF
Fish
Turtles
Seabirds
Habitats
Monk Seals
Cetaceans

Dive deep with our Science Centre Discovery Packs

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SCIENCE CENTRE

The deep-dive discovery packs below will introduce you to a range of species, habitats, survey methods and data collection techniques. Have you got what it takes to be an ocean explorer?

Follow the steps below to find out:

01

Select one of the deep-dive discovery packs below

02

Read the fact file and watch the video

03

Record your findings on the questions sheet

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On an iPad or mobile? Click below for guidance

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DISCOVERY PACK CATEGORIES
EVERYTHING
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everything Marine life Marine mammals Seagrass

Marine Megafauna

Learn about the Marine Megafauna of the Cyclades and ongoing efforts to protect these magnificent species!

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Marine life Marine mammals

Posidonia Oceanica

Explore the unique seagrass species Posidonia Oceanica and how we can help protecting them.

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Seagrass

Marine Megafauna

DOWNLOAD FACTFILE DOWNLOAD QUESTIONS OPEN VIDEO I’m finished Marine life Marine mammals
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In this deep-dive discovery pack, you will learn about:

  1. The Cyclades marine environments and threats to marine megafauna
  2. Three iconic species in the Cyclades.
  3. The protection and conservation of marine megafauna.
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Posidonia Oceanica

DOWNLOAD FACTFILE DOWNLOAD QUESTIONS OPEN VIDEO I’m finished Seagrass
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In this deep-dive discovery pack, you will learn about: 

  1. Properties of Posidonia Oceanica.
  2. Threats to Posidonia Oceanica.
  3. How marine protection can help protect these meadows.
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Educator resources

Facilitation Guide for Teachers and Parents

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Supporting Slides

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MEET OUR PARTNERS

CYCLADES PRESERVATION FUND

The marine ecosystem of the Cycladic islands is exceptionally rich, hosting a wide variety of species and habitats. However, this biodiversity faces growing threats from overfishing, rapid tourism development, plastic pollution, and the impacts of climate change. In a landmark move for marine conservation, Greece became the first European nation to commit to banning bottom trawling in all national marine parks by 2026 and in all marine protected areas by 2030.

The Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF) works to counter these challenges by supporting grassroots environmental initiatives across the islands. These include promoting sustainable fishing practices, protecting wildlife and precious habitats and species, reducing single-use plastics, and encouraging responsible tourism. CPF also leads community education, citizen science projects, and awareness campaigns to build local knowledge and empower residents to make sustainable choices.

CPF’s approach to conservation is rooted in local empowerment. By working closely with communities and co-designing practical, locally driven solutions, CPF aims to ensure long-term environmental protection that aligns with the needs and values of the Greek people.

CPF has been a strategic partner of Blue Marine Foundation for marine conservation from the beginning of Blue’s operation in Greece. This Ocean Observatory which CPF has helped create by providing resources, editing and networking with partners, aims to complement some of these Cyclades projects by encouraging curiosity, increasing knowledge and inspiring the next generation to care for our oceans.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE for more information.

 

Naxos Wildlife Protection

Naxos Wildlife Protection Association is a non-profit environmental organization run by dedicated volunteers, operating a Wildlife Rescue & First Aid Station on the island of Naxos, Greece. The association receives and rescues injured or vulnerable wild animals providing first aid, treatment and rehabilitation when needed with the ultimate goal of releasing them back into their natural habitat fit and healthy.

In addition, the organization monitors and records local fauna and actively works to protect natural habitats across the island. With a strong focus on sea turtle conservation, Naxos Wildlife Protection has expanded its activities throughout Cyclades, receiving injured or sick sea turtles from neighbouring islands and providing specialized care. The association also carries out nesting monitoring and protection, along with educational initiatives such as rescue and first-aid seminars for sea turtles across the islands.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE for more information.

 

Hellenic Ornithological Society / BirdLife Greece

The Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS) is a non-governmental conservation organisation focusing on the study and protection of wild birds and their habitats, as integral elements of Greek Nature.

Since 1982 we strive to safeguard a sustainable environment where birds and people may live in harmony. We study and protect wild birds, work towards the conservation of Important Bird Areas in Greece, raise public awareness, enhance environmental education, as well as advocate and intervene in environmental policy. HOS is a partner of BirdLife International, the largest global partnership for the conservation of wild birds and their habitats.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE for more information.

 

MOm / The Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk seal

Since 1988, MOm has been active in the protection and promotion of the coastal and marine environment of Greece, through the protection of the Mediterranean monk seal, the only seal species in the Mediterranean Sea and the most endangered seal on earth. MOm’s scientific research, conservation and education activities are carried out by a dedicated and highly-specialised team of professionals (i.e. biologists, field technicians, media officers) with the help of numerous volunteers. MOm’s activities include scientific research, rescue and rehabilitation, protection and management, public awareness and sensitisation and environmental education.

MOm has been a member of IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), the largest organisation in the world for the protection of the natural environment and has participated with a representative in the Seal Specialist Group.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE for more information.

 

Arion

The Cetacean Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre “ARION” is a specialised scientific organisation dedicated to the conservation and welfare of marine mammals in Greek waters. Established in 2002, it combines research, field conservation and veterinary expertise to monitor dolphin and whale populations and assess human pressures such as fisheries, noise, pollution and vessel traffic. A core activity is its nationwide stranding response network, providing assessment, first aid, transport and rehabilitation for stranded or injured cetaceans and Mediterranean monk seals. ARION also coordinates the Cetacean Stranding Management Team within Greece’s National Stranding Network, contributes to international initiatives and promotes public awareness through outreach and citizen science, playing a key role in marine conservation.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE for more information.

 

Marine Mammal Monitoring Unit, University of Thessaly

The Marine Mammal Monitoring Unit of the Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment at the University of Thessaly is a specialised research and education body dedicated to the study, monitoring and conservation of marine mammals in Greece and the Mediterranean. It conducts systematic population monitoring using interdisciplinary methods such as eDNA, visual and acoustic surveys, citizen science and environmental analysis to generate reliable scientific data. The Unit focuses on understanding human impacts, including pollution, fisheries, shipping and underwater noise, while investigating ecological changes in the Anthropocene. It supports marine biodiversity conservation by providing scientific evidence to authorities, participating in national and international research initiatives and fostering collaborations with institutional, scientific and environmental partners. It also contributes to training early-career scientists and serves as a bridge between research and policy, advancing the protection and sustainable management of marine ecosystems.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE for more information.

 

Milos Diving Centre

Milos Diving Centre has been operating in Milos since 1996. It is the first legal diving school in the Milos-Kimolos-Polyaigos triangle. For over thirty years, this corner of the Aegean, especially around Milos, has offered rich marine life and unique underwater landscapes. Warm waters and a volcanic seabed with caves and hydrothermal activity create diverse habitats that support many species, including the Mediterranean monk seal. Divers may encounter everything from crustaceans and nudibranchs to fish, barracudas and amberjacks. This remarkable environment offers its beauty with one simple request, to respect and protect it.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE for more information.

 

Dive In Action

The non-profit organisation “Dive In Action”, active since 2019 and based in Santorini, is dedicated to protecting and preserving the unique underwater landscape of the Thira province, with a focus on the sensitive formations of the volcanic caldera. Recognised for their global ecological, scientific and cultural value, these marine environments are monitored through research, data collection and citizen science. The organisation promotes conservation, biodiversity protection and sustainable development through public awareness and education, while also addressing environmental challenges such as marine waste and strengthening the connection between people and the underwater environment.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE for more information

 

ABOUT BLUE MARINE

Blue Marine Foundation is a UK based charity dedicated to restoring the ocean to health by addressing overfishing, one of the world’s biggest environmental problems. We are committed to creating marine reserves, restoring vital habitats and establishing models of sustainable fishing. Our mission is to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 and ensure that the remainder is effectively managed.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE for more information.

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