See Sea Turtles on Our Ayia Napa Catamaran Cruise
Sea turtles around Cape Greco have been our daily companions for years, and we still get a kick out of watching guests spot their first one.
Our SCUBACAT TURTLE CRUISE leaves from Ayia Napa Harbour and runs a full loop along the southeastern coast — out past the sea caves to the Konnos Bay area (the spot tour operators often call Turtle Bay, since this is where most of our turtle encounters happen), then on toward Protaras with a swim at Blue Lagoon on the way back. BBQ is cooked and served on board between the swim stops. About nine out of ten of our morning trips end with at least one turtle sighting, and most end with several.
What the Route Actually Looks Like
The cruise is a 4.5-hour loop, not a there-and-back. We typically leave Ayia Napa Harbour at 9:30 am (exact departure time can shift slightly through the season — check when booking) and pass a string of coastline highlights on the way out — Ayia Napa Caves, Love Bridge, the Sea Caves at Cape Greco, the lighthouse, Royal Bay. These aren't swim stops; they're the coastline you came to see, viewed from the deck.
Two stops on the route are for actual swimming:- Konnos Bay area (often called Turtle Bay) — our first swim stop, and the main turtle stop of the day. Around an hour for swimming and turtle spotting. This is where most of our sightings happen.
- Blue Lagoon — our second swim stop, on the way back. Around an hour in the bay's famously turquoise water, where visibility regularly reaches 20–30 metres. Loggerhead turtles are sometimes spotted here too.
Why SCUBACAT Works for Turtle Spotting
Turtle cruises in Cyprus all look similar in a brochure. The difference shows up on the water: where the boat can actually anchor, when it leaves, and how the day is paced.
Our Catamaran and the Bays We Know
Our 19m yacht-catamaran is built for the kind of day this is — wide decks, shade, stability, and easy access to the bays where turtles spend their time. The Konnos Bay area is sheltered, the seabed shifts between rock and seagrass, and a catamaran's shallow draft lets us get in closer than deeper-hulled boats. The twin-hull design also means no rolling at anchor, which is useful when you're trying to spot turtles from the deck or eat lunch without your plate sliding. Over the seasons, we've worked out which wind directions favour which parts of the bay, what time of day produces the most active turtles, and how to read the morning conditions before we leave the harbour. It's the kind of knowledge that doesn't fit in a brochure but ends up being the reason guests see what they came to see.Is Swimming with Turtles Safe?
Yes — provided you keep your distance and don't try to touch or chase them. Sea turtles are calm around respectful swimmers, and our crew briefs everyone on what to do (and not do) before the first swim stop. We provide snorkelling masks on board (see details below). The crew stays on the boat and keeps an eye on swimmers from the deck, so you're never unwatched in the water. If a turtle is around, you'll usually see it foraging on the seabed or rising slowly to breathe. It's not the kind of wildlife experience where the animal performs — it's the kind where you get to share its space for a few minutes.Why Morning Trips Are Better for Turtles
Wind around Cape Greco picks up from late morning onwards. Earlier means flatter water, better visibility, and turtles that are still actively feeding. By 1 pm, the surface is choppier, and spotting from the deck gets harder. That's why our main cruise typically leaves at 9:30 am (the exact time can shift slightly across the season) — it's not a marketing decision, it's a practical one.
Beyond the Turtles: What the Day Actually Looks Like
A SCUBACAT cruise isn't a wildlife documentary — it's a day out. Most of our guests are families on holiday and friends in their 20s to 40s travelling together. The vibe on board reflects that: music, sun, swims, food, time to relax between stops, and a friendly mix of people who didn't know each other in the morning sharing stories by the time the BBQ's served.
The Only BBQ on Board
We're the only cruise leaving Ayia Napa Harbour that cooks a proper BBQ right on board. No pre-packed sandwiches, no cold plate — freshly grilled meat and halloumi, tzatziki, salad, bulgur (pourgouri — a traditional Cypriot side), and bread, served on plates with cutlery as we cruise from Konnos toward Protaras after the first swim. It's a small detail that changes the whole shape of the day: instead of rushing back to port for lunch, you eat between swims with the coastline drifting past and the smell of the grill over the deck. Vegetarian and vegan options are available — let us know when you book. Our chicken is certified halal, so the menu works for guests with halal requirements too. There isn't a dining table for every passenger, but the food's served properly, not in paper bags — you eat where you're sitting.A Catamaran Built for Comfort
If you've ever been on a monohull in a chop, you know the difference a catamaran makes. Twin hulls mean no rolling, which is good news if anyone in your group gets queasy on boats. The deck is wide, with shade and sun in roughly equal measure — in peak season, an awning fully covers the upper deck, and the lower deck is half-shaded. The front of the boat has yacht-style sofa seating rather than trampolines, and it's still where everyone ends up taking photos: the best view on board.The Cape Greco Coastline
Cape Greco is a protected national forest park, and the coastline along it is some of the best-preserved in the eastern Mediterranean.
Sea caves, sheer cliffs, water so clear you can see the seabed at 8 metres. Our turtle spotting excursion in Cape Greco isn't just a turtle hunt — it's a trip through one of Cyprus's most beautiful stretches of coast. The crew knows it well enough to point out small things you'd miss on your own: where the rocks below shift colour, which cave is worth swimming into, and why a particular formation has the name it has. If turtles are around, we'll find them. If they're not feeling sociable that day, the rest of the day still earns its keep.
Getting the Most Out of Your Turtle Cruise from Ayia Napa
A few honest tips from our side:
- Book ahead in peak season. From May to September, trips fill up days in advance — especially weekend mornings. We'd rather you book early than miss the day you wanted.
- Listen to the briefing. It's short, but it covers where to enter the water, what to do if a turtle's nearby, and how the swim stops work. Skipping it makes the day messier for everyone.
- Bring cash for the mask deposit. €20 in cash per mask — refundable, but only cash works (cards can't be processed for the deposit).
- Waterproof your camera. A phone in a cheap waterproof pouch gets the job done. We've seen too many guests reach for a phone underwater and then spend the rest of the holiday at a repair shop in Ayia Napa.
- Relax. We're handling navigation, the BBQ, the timing, the safety. Your job is the easy part.
Practical Tips Before You Come Aboard
- Snorkelling masks: Provided on board for all guests, against a refundable cash deposit of €20 per mask. The deposit is returned when you hand the mask back at the end of the cruise — we use proper-quality masks rather than the cheap kind, so the deposit covers us if one is lost. Please bring €20 in cash if you'd like to use a mask; cards aren't accepted for the deposit. Bring your own if you prefer your own fit — no deposit needed for your own gear.
- What to bring: Sunscreen (more than you think), a towel, a hat, and swimwear. If you're prone to seasickness, take something before boarding — the catamaran is stable, but it's not magic.
- Accessibility: There's a boarding ramp, but the yacht isn't well-suited for wheelchair users. We can take guests aboard if they're able to move from the wheelchair to a seat on their own — the chair then folds and travels on board. The same goes for crutches or walkers: it works only if the person can transfer to the seating. Message us in advance, and we'll talk it through.
- Sun cover: The upper deck is fully shaded by an awning in peak season, and the lower deck is half-shaded, but some head cover is still a good idea, at least during the swims. A hat with a strap is ideal.
Sunset Cruise
If a morning cruise isn't your style or your schedule doesn't allow it, we also run a 4-hour sunset version, typically from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm (exact time varies seasonally), for €35. It follows the same two-stop rhythm as the morning trip: the Konnos Bay area first for turtle spotting and a swim, then Blue Lagoon on the way back. After that, we cruise slowly back toward Ayia Napa over the deep water to catch the sunset out at sea. No BBQ on this one — it's a different vibe: music, dancing on deck, photos at golden hour, and a serving of seasonal fruit included. Better suited to younger groups and couples wanting a livelier evening than a long lunch.Booking
Morning cruise with BBQ: €45, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. Sunset cruise: €35, 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Departure times can shift slightly throughout the season. Check the current schedule on the morning or sunset cruise pages, or confirm when you book. WhatsApp +357 97 719 450 or DM @scubacat.cy on Instagram. We leave from Ayia Napa Harbour.
