HISTORY
The island is bound with the history of Greece from the beginning of Greek mythology. Its Greek name, Kerkyra or Korkyra, is related to two powerful water symbols: Poseidon, god of the sea, and Aesopos, an important Greek mainland river.
According to myth, Poseidon fell in love with the beautiful nymph Korkyra, daughter of Aesopus and river nymph Metope, and abducted her. Poseidon brought Korkyra to the hitherto unnamed island and, in marital bliss, offered her name to the place: Korkyra, which gradually evolved to Kerkyra (Doric). Together, they had a child they called Phaiax, after whom the inhabitants of the island were named: Phaiakes. This term was transliterated via Latin to Phaeacians.
The island’s history is laden with battles and conquests. The legacy of these struggles is visible in the form of castles punctuating strategic locations across the island. Two of these castles enclose its capital, which is the only city in Greece to be surrounded in such a way. As a result, Corfu’s capital has been officially declared a Kastropolis (“castle city”) by the Greek government. Corfu was long controlled by Venice, which repulsed several Turkish sieges, before falling under British rule following the Napoleonic Wars. (source Wikipedia)
WHY CORFU?
The second-largest of the Ionian Islands was one of the first Greek destinations to embrace mass tourism. Yet Corfu has far more to offer than just sun, sea and souvlaki. It is located just west of the Greek mainland and the southern coast of Albania. Shaped like a sickle, with its hollow side facing inwards, the island is about 65 kilometres long and 32 kilometres across at its widest point.
There are 217 kilometres of coast, although anyone venturing inland will find that the interior has at least as much to offer as the shore. Much of Corfu is mountainous. At 906 metres above sea level, its highest peak, Mount Pantokrator, is visible from most places on the island.
These days, Corfu caters for everyone, including those who prefer to travel independently or who want to elude busy resorts. (Source:”The Independent”)
DIVE CORFOU
Grouper and moray eels will be seen at most of our sites alongside octopus, crayfish and large and small scorpion fish. Look out into the blue and you may see tuna, dentex and swordfish. Take a torch to look inside the caves and watch the red shrimp hurry away into a dark crevice.
The underside of the overhangs and caves are filled with parazoantas, sponges and coral forms offering bright colours on the faces of the rocks. Anemones and spirographs wave gently as you pass. Look into the depths to see large sponges and pena nobilis.
In shallow waters, damselfish, peacock wrasse, parrotfish and small golden grouper will satisfy your desire to see what lies beneath the surface in Corfu.
DIVE SIGHTS
