Snorkeling in Cameo Island

How to get to Cameo Island snorkeling spot?

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.

Water entrance for snorkeling Cameo Island

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.

Snorkeling tips for swimming with sea turtles in Cameo Island

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.

Restaurants and accommodation near Cameo Island

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.