World Country Guide

Sport & Activities

Watersports
There are excellent facilities along all coastlines of the mainland and particularly in the islands. Most major hotels can help with arrangements. Water-skiing is especially popular and there are over 30 water-ski schools in Greece with restaurants and child-care facilities. Speed boats are also available for hire. Independent scuba-diving is strictly forbidden, in order to guard against the pilfering of underwater antiquities. Divers may only venture out under the auspices of a recognised diving school. Snorkelling is permitted, however, and is possible practically anywhere. For further information, contact the Hellenic Federation of Underwater Activities, West Terminal Post Office, Agios Cosmos, 166 04 Hellenikon, Athens (tel: (210) 981 9961; fax: (210) 981 7558; website: www.sportsnet.gr or www.finswimming.org.gr.

Fishing
Greek waters offer good fishing, particularly during the summer and autumn. Boats and equipment can be found in most villages.

Mountaineering
This is becoming increasingly popular and there is scope for hill walking and climbing. There are well-maintained trails in the most popular areas, supplemented by donkey and goat tracks connecting villages and leading over mountains. The best areas for walking include the Peloponnese, the Pindos Mountains and the south and west of Crete.

Other
Sites of archaeological interest abound, and the visitor can often come across ancient ruins and traces of lost civilisations. It is often advisable to use a guide when visiting the more remote regions. There are over 7000 karstic cave formations in the country, the majority in Crete. Further information on these caves is available from the Hellenic Speleological Society, 32 Sina Street, 106 72 Athens (tel: (210) 361 7824; fax: (210) 364 3476; e-mail:ellspe@otenet.gr; website: http://web.otenet.gr/ellspe). There are some horse riding clubs in Greece (in Attica, Crete, Corfu and Thessaloniki).