A Paphos turtle snorkeling tour takes you by boat to the turtle waters off Paphos on Cyprus’s west coast. Find more day trips among our tours in Greece and Cyprus.
This page covers the trip, which turtles live off Paphos, the sea scooter, what to bring and the season.
What is a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour, and how does it work?
A Paphos turtle snorkeling tour is a small-group trip along the Paphos coast. You swim with a mask and snorkel and watch sea turtles in their natural habitat. An expert guide leads the group, and the operator hands out the gear.
On a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour, you first meet the team and travel to carefully selected coastal spots. One operator page says the group meets at a set point. Another page says the team collects guests from their hotels and brings them back afterwards.
One page says you enter the sea from the shore and swim calmly. The turtles feed on seagrass and rise to the surface for air, so you watch them go about their day. The gear list names masks, snorkels, fins and life jackets on one page, and floating noodles on another.
The route also visits sea caves and a shipwreck. Two operator pages list them as photo stops. The tour guide talks about turtle conservation and why these animals need protection. Two pages add a sea scooter, which lets you glide through the water. That makes a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour part wildlife outing and part coastal sightseeing.
How long is a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour, and where does it start?
A Paphos turtle snorkeling tour with a sea scooter runs three and a half hours, says one operator page. Another page calls its trip a half-day outing and offers both a morning and an afternoon departure. Hotel pick-up is part of that second trip.
The meeting point on one operator page is the Tombs of the Kings archaeological site in Chloraka. The page asks you to meet your tour guide at the site entrance. So a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour can begin at an ancient site, not on a beach.
The half-day page sets the morning tour at half past nine and the afternoon tour at half past three. The team collects you at your hotel and returns you there. A third page covers the ride from the meeting point, while the way to that point is yours to arrange. It adds that tour lengths vary, so check the timing.
The title of that third page lists Peyia as the location. Wikipedia places Coral Bay, a resort in the Peyia municipality, 11 kilometres north of the city of Paphos. Paphos itself lies in the southwest of Cyprus. Check your meeting point first, because each Paphos turtle snorkeling tour sets its own.
Which turtles live off Paphos, and where do they feed and nest?
Two species live off Paphos: the green turtle and the loggerhead. A Paphos turtle snorkeling tour looks for them in shallow coastal water, where they feed. Both species lay their eggs on sand in the Akamas area, north of town.
The green turtle, Chelonia mydas, is the plant eater. Wikipedia places adult greens in shallow lagoons, with seagrasses as their main food. An operator page adds that its turtles feed on seagrass and come up to the surface for air. So a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour stays in calm, shallow, clear water.
The loggerhead, Caretta caretta, eats differently. Its main food is invertebrates from the sea bed, and its jaws are strong. A grown loggerhead reaches a shell length of about 90 cm. Wikipedia gives it a reddish brown shell. The green turtle has an olive to black one. On a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour, that colour tells them apart.
Nesting follows a strict calendar. The Cyprus Fisheries Department puts the nesting season between late spring and September. The green turtle gives birth mainly on the west side of Akamas. The main beaches run from Toxeftra to Lara, with Polis Chrysochous Bay further north. At Lara Bay a hatchery protects the eggs.
Feeding grounds sit closer to town. One local page says the rocky reefs just north of Paphos city are rich feeding grounds. The same page names the calm bay from Latchi toward the northeast as another quiet place to watch turtles. Green turtles breed almost only in Cyprus and Turkey.
How close can you get to a turtle on a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour, and what are the rules?
Keep a respectful distance and never touch a turtle. One local page asks for at least three to four metres. On a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour you watch from a calm distance and let the animal leave.
The rules for a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour come from Cyprus law and from common sense. A Cyprus legal page says physical contact causes a turtle stress and can trigger defensive behaviour. Feeding turtles is prohibited by law. Flash photography can disorient or scare them. Keep the flash off and your hands to yourself.
One operator page says its Paphos turtle snorkeling tour runs in small groups to cut the harm to the environment. It also says the tour guide explains turtle conservation during the day. The same page describes swimmers who stay calm in clear water. The turtles feed, rise for air and carry on.
From June to the end of September, umbrellas, sunbeds and tents are banned on the nesting beaches. Nobody stays on the sand at night, starting one hour before sunset. Driving any vehicle there is banned all year. Keep to these rules and a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour leaves the turtles in peace.
What is a sea scooter, and how does it work on a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour?
The sea scooter, also called an underwater scooter, is a compact device whose motor drives a propeller. On a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour, the group shares scooters and takes turns. Each swimmer glides through the water with less effort.
Operator pages of a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour agree that the scooters are shared, but they give different numbers. One page says four sea scooters are available. Another says five to seven are available, so sharing among the group is necessary. Guests take turns to dive among the turtles and fish.
On a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour, the scooter is one item in the day, not the whole trip. One tour page lists sea scooter use, transport to the diving spot, a tour guide, fruit and water. A review page adds that the tour guide gives safety instructions at the meeting point.
Operators sell the scooter as part of the fun. One page calls the ride a thrill. A review page says the scooters let you glide effortlessly across the surface. Between snorkeling sessions, the tour guide hands out fruit and water, so the day has rest breaks between the swims.
What do you need for a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour, and who can join?
Bring swimwear, a towel and sunscreen to a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour. Operator pages say the snorkeling gear is provided. Confident swimmers can join. One page says children must come with an adult.
The gear for a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour is covered, but the lists differ. One operator page names masks, snorkels, fins and life jackets. Another page adds floating noodles for added comfort. A third page says all snorkel equipment is provided and lists the towel as your own to bring.
Swimming skill is where the pages disagree. One page says the tour needs confident swimming ability, even with floating noodles. Another says no prior experience is needed. A third says the trip suits a seasoned snorkeler or a beginner. Check the rule on the operator page before booking a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour.
Age rules differ too. One review page rules out children under six. Another page recommends it for older children who are confident swimmers. The same review page advises visitors over sixty-five to think about their comfort in open water.
Group size is a separate rule. One review page says the group is capped at twenty people. Another page keeps the groups small to limit harm to the environment.
Can you be sure to see a turtle on a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour?
No. A Paphos turtle snorkeling tour cannot promise a sighting, because turtles are wild and roam freely. The trip takes you to coastal spots known for turtles, but an actual meeting stays uncertain.
One page for a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour says the group goes to coastal locations known for frequent turtle sightings. There the turtles feed on seagrass and rise to the surface for air. The page says swimmers enter their habitat from the shore and swim calmly in clear water.
Another page calls wildlife unpredictable. For that reason, a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour adds other stops. One operator page lists sea caves and a shipwreck on the route, with photo chances along the way. If the turtles stay away, the swim still has something to show.
The sea around Paphos holds loggerhead turtles and green turtles. Adult green turtles feed on seagrass in shallow water. Loggerheads are omnivores that mainly eat invertebrates from the seabed, using large and powerful jaws.
The time of day matters too. A Paphos boat cruise page says afternoon outings give a chance to see turtles coming up to feed. One snorkeling page lists a half-day outing with a morning start and another at half past three.
Which season and sea conditions suit a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour?
The Paphos turtle snorkeling tour starts in April. Two operator pages put the peak for turtle sightings between late spring and November. In those months the sea is warm, and the summer sky stays almost free of cloud.
The sea off Cyprus is coolest in February at 17 degrees Celsius and warmest in August at 27 or 28. From late spring to November the average stays above 20 degrees Celsius. Those are the same months in which the operator pages place the peak for turtle activity.
Rain in Paphos falls from November to mid-March, and July and August bring almost none. The operator pages start the season in April, when the wet months have ended. A Paphos turtle snorkeling tour in summer therefore meets a dry sky. July is the sunniest month in the climate table, with more than 380 hours of sunshine.
Wind speeds over the island are light to moderate, and the direction changes. Strong winds happen at times, but gales are infrequent. Even so, one page says the tour depends on the weather. Poor conditions bring a cancellation or a new date. The same page calls the water remarkably clear.
What else do travellers ask about a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour?
Where does a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour meet, and when does it start?
Four operator pages name the same meeting point for this trip. It is the entrance to the Tombs of the Kings, an archaeological site in Chloraka near Paphos. One of them says a short safety briefing happens there, in the shade. A fifth page names only a parking area.
One page lists two start times, 9:00 in the morning and 3:00 in the afternoon, on six days a week. Another lists 9:30 and 3:30.
Hotel pick-up differs by operator page. One says it is not offered, while two say it is included. Arriving late for pick-up counts as a no-show on one page. A Paphos turtle snorkeling tour starts with a clock check.
What happens if the sea or the weather changes a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour?
One operator page says that if the experience is cancelled because of weather conditions, you are offered a different date. On three other pages the booking can be dropped one day ahead.
None of the pages gives a wind limit or a wave height. One page calls the snorkeling spot calm and clear. Ask the operator on the day before for the latest news on the sea.
What food, drink, shade and toilets come with a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour?
Four operator pages list fruit and water as part of a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour, and one adds fresh drinks. One page says lunch is not included. Floating noodles are offered for extra support in the water, according to another page.
The meeting point sits in shade, says one page. No operator page mentions toilets or changing rooms, so plan a stop before you drive to Chloraka.
Can you take photos or use an underwater camera on a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour?
Operators handle photos in different ways. One page says turtle photos are shared after the tour. Another says a GoPro films the group and the footage is sent afterwards. A third calls the underwater photos and videos an optional upgrade, and a fourth offers them on request. That page says a photographer joins the snorkeling session.
No page says whether you can bring your own camera. Ask the team before you take one into the water.
Does seasickness matter on this trip?
No operator page mentions seasickness. The pages describe entering the water from the shore and swimming calmly among the turtles. One page says the group travels to the snorkeling beach by boat or vehicle without naming which.
Two pages add visits to sea caves and to a wreck. One page says the tour suits every skill level, from beginner to seasoned snorkeler. If boats make you unwell, ask the operator how the group reaches each stop. Do this first, then book a Paphos turtle snorkeling tour.