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Welcome to Cameo Island, a small rocky island, bathed by crystal-clear Mediterranean water. Its snorkel spot, easily accessible from the Greek island of Zakynthos, is one of the best in Europe for swimming with sea turtles. Snorkeling in Cameo is not to be missed under any circumstances if you are visiting Zakynthos!
Cameo Island is a small private island located south of Zakynthos, in Laganas Bay. To get there, you must reach the small port of Agios Sostis, which is at the southern tip of Laganas Beach. The island is only a hundred meters from the coast and is linked to the port by a wooden pedestrian bridge. The entry fee to the island is euro 5 per person.
The recommended water entrance point is located north of the island, about 50m after the end of the bridge, at the foot of a small building (see map). Steps are carved into the cliff leading down to the shore, where a floating platform is installed in the summer. This water entrance point provides direct access to the best turtle watching area.
Loggerhead turtles can be found all around Cameo Island, as well as at Laganas Beach. However, for the best chance of seeing them, we recommend that you prioritize the area located to the north of the island and the footbridge (the one indicated on the map above). The probability of meeting them here is higher than anywhere else.
The recommended area for turtle viewing is made up of rocky and sandy beds, with an average depth observed at 2-4m. To find the turtles, you can look for other snorkelers already in the water, or even small boats that come to observe them from the surface. Otherwise, crisscross the area. Cameo Island is known as one of the best spots in Europe for swimming with turtles. If the chances of seeing them during a snorkeling time at this spot are high, we cannot guarantee that you’ll spot them.
In Zakynthos, we can find loggerhead turtles (carreta carreta). They come to breed in the region and lay eggs on the sandy beaches of the island. The loggerhead turtle lives in all oceans of the world, but it is exceptional to be able to observe them by snorkeling (in tropical seas, the green sea turtle and the hawksbill sea turtle are the most common). As always with sea turtles, keep in mind the basic observation rules: do not touch them, do not chase them, and give them enough space when they come up to the surface to breathe.
Apart from turtles, there is not much underwater life around Cameo Island. In rocky areas, we can still come across small shoals of salema, wrasse, and seabream.
There is a bar installed on Cameo beach, but it is closed when the island is privatized for weddings. There are a few to be found at Agios Sostis, but above all- there is a large choice of restaurants and lodging along Laganas Beach.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.