Where is this place?
How do I get there?
How do I get transferred to the embarkation point?
Climatic conditions, air and water temperatures?
Local habitats, terrain and infrastructure?
Which one of your itineraries should I choose?
What kind of yachts do we sail on?
Are land based resorts part of the cruise?
What are the accommodations like on the yachts?
How about water sports?
Are laundry services available?
What about onboard entertainment?
What about land tours?
Are there medical facilities onboard?
What about insurance coverage?
How is the food onboard?
What's special about the diving in this region?
Is a wet suit recommended?
What types of diving are available?
How is diving performed?
Where and when is diving performed?
What about diving equipment?
What about diving safety?
Is dive training and certification available?
Special Interest Expeditions
For the Travel Professional

Where is this place?
Eastern Mediterranean Sea region, includes all of Greece, the Aegean Sea, the Greek islands, and the Turkish coast.
The Aegean Archipelago is home to the most famous islands in the world, Myconos, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete and Corfu, and is surrounded by 15,000 miles of the spectacular coastline of Greece and Turkey.  Here the sport of diving becomes a
mystical experience.

How do I get there?
Direct flights from New York to Athens by Olympic Airways, and Delta Airlines.  Also flights by Virgin Atlantic Airways, British Airways, Alitalia, Lufhansa, Swissair, and Air France from most major US cities to most European cities with connection flights to Athens.  Flight time lasts about nine hours, Zeus Tours is the official tour operator handling all flight arrangements and land accommodations.

How do I get transferred to the embarkation point?
Our English speaking Cruise director will welcome you at the Athens airport, and handle all your baggage.  Depending on your itinerary, we will transfer you to the embarkation point in our private air-conditioned vehicles.  It's about an hour's scenic coastline drive, to the port of Lavrion, at the southern end of the Attica peninsula.  If your itinerary calls for a domestic flight transfer, you will be transferred to the domestic flights terminal by us for a short flight to the island from which your dream vacation begins.  On arrival, you will be transferred to your yacht by us for the welconw cocktail party.  The reverse procedure applies upon the completion of your diving cruise.  The above tranqfer arrangements are applicable free of charge if you choose to purchase all your travel plans through  Zeus Tours.  In the event that you decide to handle your own travel arrangements, then at the time your booking is confirmed, you will be given all the necessary instructions on how to handle your own transfers, and the costs involved.  When handling your own travel plans, we would advise you to arrive a day earlier to familiarize yourself with the local conditions.  In the event that your flight is delayed, and you missed the cruise departure time, we will have to transfer you, at your cost, to the next scheduled port of call to meet with the boat.

Climatic conditions, air and water temperatures?
The region's climate is considered semitropical, with air temperatures that range from 6OF to 85F year around.  The months of January, February and March are the coolcr ones.  The climate is dry and sunny, with no rain most of the year, except in winter.  The water temperature ranges between 55F in the winter, and 75F during the rest of the year, with breezy winds and gentle surf.  The region is blessed with the most pleasant climate, and it can be enjoyed all year around.

Local inhabitants, terrain and infrastructure?
The terrain is hilly with green mountains, sandy beaches, olive trees everywhere, and smiling faces.  Hospitality wais invented here.  Modern infirastructure, digital communications, new airports, and highways, frequent domestic flights, new ports, and modern sea and land transportation are all available.  Greece, where the  games were invented back in ancient times, was chosen for the 2004 Olympic Games for it's remarkable network of athletic facilities.  There is so much that has been said about the beauty and glory of this region, yet it's not enough.  There are so many points of interest, from historical museums, to live volcanoes, to local culture, many varieties of nature's wonders, and of course, the Aegean sea.  Thousands of sunny islands  are scattered all over, waiting to seduce you.

Which one of your itineraries should I choose?
We offer six different itineraries, each one covering a major island complex.  The difference between them is in the local flavor and the diving conditions.  We offer itineraries that cover less populated islands and apply to nature lovers.  For the outgoing, other itineraries are more cosmopolitan and will visit islands full of life and noise.  The diving conditions vary from one area to another.  Certain famous wrecks are located within one area, where another area is known for its formidable caverns and volcanic formations. We have extensive knowledge of all the exciting points for diving within this entire region, and you can trust our 40 years experience in diving in this region.  So let us suggest an itinerary that will match your style of diving with that of other divers, and prepare to embark on a diving cruise that has no equal.  If you travel solo, you can share a cabin with another single guest, or embark on a "singles cruise."

What kind of yachts do we sail on?
Our yachts are traditional motorsailers, all built five years ago and refurbished every two years.  They're ideal for sailing and cruising the crystal blue waters of the Aegean, with lengths of 100 feet and 25 foot beams.  Equipped with two main Cat engines, two generators with 220V output (adapters are used for 110 volt), four big sails, and all navigational and communications electronics such as VHS, SSB, Radar, depth sonar, and GPS.  The crews (four on each yacht) are trained, English speaking professionals, and have long seafaring experience.  A cruise director is also onboard to ensure that all of our guests' needs are fulfilled and that the boat is kept in shipshape condition.

What about land-based resorts?
There are also land based resorts on all the popular islands that offer an ideal environment for vacationing and diving.  A list of these resorts, and what they have to offer can be provided upon request.  In addition to the above, a combination of both land and sea based itineraries are available where the guests can spend one week at a land resort, and one week onboard the yacht.

How are the accommodations onboard?
On board there are six or eight cabins, all with a double bed and a single berth.  Every cabin has its own private facilities, with all electric devices, hot and cold water all the time, and central air conditioning.  Expansive, shaded sundecks with chaise lounges, and deck chairs are provided, as are hot freshwater showers on deck and fresh towels daily.

How about water sports?
There are many water sports activities available such as wind surfing, sea kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, and water skiing where available, all free of charge.

Is there laundry service available?
Laundry service is available only at each port of call, and the crew can handle all the guests' laundry needs while in port.  All the towels and linens are provided by us and changed daily.  Storage is limited, so guests are advised to travel light.

Is there onboard entertainment?
There are video decks, books, table games, lectures about the region, a full bar, stereo music, and dancing.  In addition to the above, there are beach parties at night, and occasional nightlife on land, all included.

What about land tours?
Our itineraries are designed to accommodate divers and non-divers alike.  When the yacht is in port or if a port is nearby, then the crew will transfer the guests who desire to visit local points of interest onto land, and the cruise director will escort and lead the tour.  The ports of call are carefully chosen to ensure that there are many exciting places to visit and things to do besides diving.  The cost of land tours is included, except transportation costs.

Are there any medical facilities onboard?
All of our yachts are equipped with first aid facilities and the crews are trained in first aid and medical assistance procedures.  Modern health facilities are available throughout the region within an hour from any point.  Our guests should inform the crew of any medical condition they may have before they embark.

What about insurance coverage?
Insurance coverage is provided for the vessel and its passengers with limits as described in the General Conditions clauses printed on the General Information page.  Diving insurance coverage is also provided by signing the proper forms on embarkation.

How is the food onboard?
The cook prepares fresh delicious local cuisine meals three times a day, which are served buffet style.  At certain ports of call dinner is served on land at a local tavcrua.  During the day snacks are available.  All beverages such as mineral water, coffee and tea, soft drinks, local wine and beer are included.  No alcoholic beverages are available before or during diving operations.  Approximate times of meal service are 08:00 AM for breakfast, 1:00 PM for lunch, and 8:00 PM for dinner.  At certain idyllic locations the crew will prepare a beach barbecue party when permitted.

Is diving in this region spectacular?
Recreational diving in the region was not allowed before, the reason being that there is so much wealth of sunken treasures under the sea, such as ancient cities, wrecks of all periods and historic ages, and artifacts, that the government was determined to protect it from discovery.  Al1 of that combined with an underwater terrain that is as spectacular as the one above the water, creates the most exciting diving area one can encounter. It is literally the ideal diving destination, with no match anywhere in the world.  Diving was practiced here in the ancient times, as the murals on amphoras and vases reveal, and the moderm diver can  relive the experience in these historical waters.  Our company is the first and only one offering diving cruises in this region.

Is a wet suit recommended?
When diving a 5mm thick neoprene body suit is recommended to avoid loss of body heat on prolonged dives.  Our guests are encouraged to bring their own wet suit, if possible, or they will he provided one by us.

What types of diving are available?
Each of our itineraries offers a wide variety of diving styles.  Since the region has no tides, divers can enjoy constant bottom conditions without noticeable currents.  The volcanic nature of the underwater world presents spectacular scenery with craters, cavems, walls, caves, coral reefs, sponge colonies, and semitropical sea vegetation.  Marine life is abundant, including sea turtles, monk seals, bottle nose dolphins, and giant octopuses living in this magnificent marine park.  There are many shipwrecks and sunken treasures inside pirates' caves, that we can explore.  Ancient civilizations have left their ruins behind, submerged under the sea, a result of the volatile earth changes the region has gone through.  The tectonic plates of the European and African continents meet right underneath this region.

How is diving being performed?
Diving is performed from a 60 feet custom built dive boat that accompanies the yacht during the cruise.  There is a diving platform with hinged ladders that submerges into the water for easy access.  All the diving equipment is kept on the diving boat, allowing the yacht to provide the maximum space for leisure and comfort.  The divemaster and his assistant diving instructor are the ones that conduct all the diving activities.  They are accommodated on the dive boat, allowing our guests uncrowded conditions.  No diving is performed on the first and last day of the cruise.  Each group of divers (maximum six) is escorted by a dive guide during the dive.  There are three dives scheduled for each day of diving, and an occasional night dive.  Two to three hours have to elapse between dives to ensure optimal safety conditions.  The diving gear is handled by the crew, once the diver is out of the water, to refill and prepare for the next dive. While diving is performed from the diving boat, the yacht is standing by so that guests coming out of the water, can snack and relax onboard.

Where and when is diving being performed?
The limitless diving sites and diversity of this region, and our extensive  knowledge of them, ensures that our guests are  introduced to a new and exciting diving area everyday.  As we cruise through the panorama of the Greek islands, we get to pick and choose the best diving sites anywhere.  One day we may stop at a rock pinnacle with many rock formations rising from the sea floor, where marine life is abundant, and the next day we may explore the shear walls of a 2000 foot drop off the ledge of an island with myriad sponge and coral colonies.  We visit marine parks and sanctuaries, and are greeted by the monk seals and bottlenose dolphins.  The first dive of the day commences at 10:00 AM and the last at 4:00 PM. All dives last for about an hour.  Night dives are always followed by a beach party.  Maximum depth of diving is 130 feet, except on special technical diving expeditions.  Solo diving is not available.  All levels of diving are available during any of our cruises.

What about diving equipment?
Onboard our diving cruises the necessary diving equipment is always available.  Tanks, belts, weights, BC's, wet suits, fins, masks, regulators, dive computers, and diver locators. It is advisable thoughhowever that our guests bring their own personal gear, because they are used to it.  Nitrox fills are available for certified nitrox divers.  Rebreathers are also available for certified users at an additional rental cost.  Air tanks come in 80 and 90 cubic inch capacity.  Photo and video equipment and training courses, are also available at $30 to $50 a day.  Our photo pro will help our guests with all their underwater photographs and videos.  Photo seminars are also included during the cruise.  There are fresh water wash basins for photo equipment, and E-6 slide developing is available at each port of call.  Diving gear is stowed in personal lockers onboard the diving boat.

How is the diving safety managed onboard?
We are emphatic about safety, and all our diving boats are equipped with an oxygen system.  Deco stops are obligatory on ascent.  Diving instructors are certified in first aid, and diving related medical assistance.  In addition, recompression chambers at Health facilities on land are available within one to two hours of sea transportation.  Diving insurance is provided free of charge by DAN for all our diving guests.

Is dive training and certification available onboard?
To come diving with us, our guests are required to be certified by any of the major diving organizations such as PADI, CMAS, SSI, YMCA, TDI, NAUI, IANTD, ANDI.  Guests are required to carry their certification proof and their diving log book with them.  Guests do not have to be certified divers to join our cruises, since we are certified to train divers onboard our cruises.  We certify divers who successfully complete the courses with PADI, YMCA, CMAS and SSI certifications.  We are the official SSI Regional Training Center for this region, and a five star Training Facility for PADI, CMAS, and YMCA.  All guests who are certified by us automatically receive the official Greek diving certification (ESDA), which is considered one of the most prestigious in the world.  The required time and costs involved for these training programs are: OPEN WATER DIVER-- five days and $500; ADVANCED OPEN WATER--two days and $300; RESCUE DIVER--three days and $400; DIVE MASTER--nine to ten days and $800; NITROX COURSES-- two to three days and $300, REBREATHER COURSES--two to three days and $300.

Special Interest Expeditions
Our region offers fascinating diving conditions which include underwater caves, wrecks of all descriptions, and for technical and deep diving there is the famous Britannic, sister ship to the Titanic.  There are underwater volcanoes and live lava can be observed as it emerges from the inner core.  There are ruins underwater of entire cities sunk during earthquakes, and treasures of all descriptions waiting at the bottom of the sea.  Our organization offers cruises and itineraries that encompass the essential requirments of special interest groups.  We can design itineraries to fit any type of interest, from archeology to ecology to geology.  These expeditions are offered to institutions, universities, societies, and research groups.  For more information and details, please contact our offices.

For the Travel Professional
Special incentives to the trade professional and any group leader apply.  These include FAM trips, credit bonuses, and free participation.  We encourage the effort to stimulate and generae public interst in our cruises which are new and unknown to the market.  The result will be beneficial to us all.