An Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine cruise is a boat trip with a lower room whose glass windows sit below sea level, so you watch fish swim past from your seat. Add a land day from the wider range of tours in Greece to round out the stay.
This page covers what the cruise includes, where you board and when the boats leave, how a semi-submarine works, the sea life around Agioi Pantes Island, the deck views over Mirabello Bay, the town, other boat trips from the port and who the cruise suits.
What does an Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine cruise include?
An Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine cruise includes the boat trip itself and an audio commentary. The commentary runs in English, French, Greek, German and Russian. You board an air-conditioned semi-submarine vessel at the port of Agios Nikolaos.
The tour page lists two items under its inclusions. The first is a cruise on a semi-submarine vessel. The second is an audio commentary in multiple languages. The operator behind the trip is Creta semi-submarine. On every Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine trip, all taxes and fees are included, says the same page.
The audio commentary explains the flora and fauna you see during the trip. You pick from five languages: English, French, Greek, German and Russian. The operator’s own listing for the same boat names the same five languages. So families from different countries follow the story in their own language.
A host or greeter also welcomes guests. The tour page lists the host languages as Greek, German, English, French and Russian. On its own listing, the operator says its crew gladly tells you more about the surrounding area. The crew shares its knowledge with guests on an Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine cruise, so ask your questions on board.
Plans change, so the cancellation rule matters. The tour page offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The operator’s listing states the same rule, with a full refund up to 24 hours before the start. Your ticket stays flexible until the day before the trip.
Where do you board, and when do the cruises leave?
You board an Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine cruise at the port of Agios Nikolaos. The meeting point is the Semi-Submarine Ticket Counter at Koundourou 5. Departures run every day at 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30, says the operator’s listing.
The full address is Koundourou 5, Ag. Nikolaos 721 00. The operator’s listing places the meeting point at the boat in the port. Arrive 20 minutes before the tour starts. That leaves time to board and take a first look under the water before departure.
Each trip lasts 1.5 hours. After that, the boat returns to where it departed from. With three start times, you plan the cruise around lunch or a morning walk in town. A second listing for the Nautilus also mentions three departure times from the port of Agios Nikolaos.
The tour page asks you to check availability to see the starting times for your date. Wikivoyage describes the boat as taking a round trip around the bay. The operator’s listing adds that sessions run as group activities. So you share the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine with other guests and finish where you began.
Hotel pickup is not included. The operator’s listing says the meeting point is at the boat, so you reach the port on your own. Drivers have an easy start, because a free car park sits at the port. An Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine trip fits well into a self-drive day.
The season has limits. The Nautilus listing runs its schedule from late spring to late October, on every day of the week. The same page notes that seats are limited and advises booking ahead. Check your date on the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine schedule before you walk to the harbour.
How does a semi-submarine work, and how does it differ from a glass-bottom boat?
The Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine is a specially built catamaran with glass windows below sea level. You sit in a lower room, one floor below the deck, and watch the sea without getting wet. The boat itself never dives.
On the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine, the design has two levels. Up top sits a sun-protected upper deck. Below it lies an underwater cabin with large glass windows. Passengers walk down into this cabin and look sideways into the sea. The operator’s page describes the marine fauna and flora as being one floor below the deck.
The Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine has a name. One operator’s listing calls the boat the Nautilus. That same listing calls it the one-of-a-kind semi-submarine in the whole country. The cabin is fully air-conditioned, so the room stays cool while you look out through the submerged windows.
A glass-bottom boat works in a simpler way. It has sections of glass or other clear material below the waterline. Passengers look down through that glass from inside the boat. The view beats looking into the water from above, because surface ripples no longer bend the light.
Glass-bottom boats serve seaside tourist destinations as well as lake towns. Wikipedia says they are designed to let the maximum number of tourists view out the glass. Common tours show underwater flora and fauna, reefs and shipwrecks. The Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine focuses on fish and the sea ground near the coast.
The two ideas overlap. The operator’s listing describes the boat as a catamaran with glass bottom. The Nautilus listing also calls it a semi-submarine glass bottom boat. The main difference is the lower room. You sit inside the cabin below sea level, close to the fish, as with a diving mask.
What sea life lives around Agioi Pantes Island?
Colourful fish fill the coastal waters of Agioi Pantes Island, the tiny island off the town. The Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine shows them up close as the crew feeds them. Breams and black gobies are two species named by the operator.
On the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine, feeding brings the fish to the glass. The crew puts food in the water, and different species gather in front of the windows. Wikivoyage describes the same trip as showcasing underwater fish, supported by feeding them. It also mentions views of the sea ground from the cabin.
Naming each fish is part of the fun on the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine. A board inside the cabin shows facts and pictures about the local fish. It helps you work out which species swims past your window. Look out for breams and black gobies, both listed on the operator’s page.
The onboard audio commentary adds more detail. It explains the flora and fauna you see through the glass. You learn about the sea plants as well as the fish. The coastal waters of Agioi Pantes Island stay the focus of the underwater part of the cruise.
Larger animals sometimes visit too. The tour page says curious sea turtles, dolphins and seals sometimes choose to investigate the vessel. Nobody controls them, so treat any sighting as luck. The Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine promises fish, and anything bigger is a bonus for the day.
What do you see from the top deck across Mirabello Bay?
The second half of an Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine cruise moves up to the main deck. From there you look across Agios Nikolaos Bay. You feel the sea breeze as the boat cruises through the bay back to port.
The tour page splits the trip into two parts. The underwater viewing comes first. Then passengers take a seat on the main deck for the views of the bay. The operator’s listing describes this upper deck as sun-protected. You sit outside in the open air, with cover above your head.
From the deck of the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine, the coastline around the town comes into view. Wikivoyage notes that this part of the trip points out notable buildings and hotels along the shore. The boat then turns and heads back towards the port where the cruise started.
The water around you is part of a much larger bay. Agios Nikolaos overlooks Mirabello Bay, an embayment of the Sea of Crete. It lies on the eastern part of the island. The island of Pseira also sits within Mirabello Bay, far out across the water from the town.
The hills around this bay hold a long past. In the Late Minoan period, cities of refuge rose on high ground overlooking it. Karphi was one of them. Later settlers built more hilltop cities above the bay, such as Lato. An Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine passenger sees this same high ground from the sea.
The bay also holds a story from the age of flying boats. Wikipedia records that an Imperial Airways flying boat named Scipio sank here. It went down after a heavy landing in a strong downdraft. The plane had just arrived on a flight from Alexandria. The Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine crosses the same wide bay today.
What is Agios Nikolaos like, from Lake Voulismeni to the harbour?
Agios Nikolaos is a coastal town in eastern Crete and the capital of the Lasithi regional unit. The Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine sails from its harbour. A channel links that harbour to Lake Voulismeni, a small lake at the centre of town.
The town lies east of Heraklion, north of Ierapetra and west of Sitia. About 13,605 people live in the town itself. Its name means Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors. That name suits a harbour town, and the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine is one of the boats that leave its quay.
Lake Voulismeni sits right in the centre. It is circular, with a diameter of 137 metres and a depth of 48.8 metres. Locals simply call it “The Lake”. Soldiers of the French Army dug the channel that connects it to the harbour. Boats now rest along its edges.
A small park above the lake gives a panoramic view of the water. Around the lagoon you find a trail, traditional fishing boats, ducks, an amphitheatre and cafés. Legend says the goddess Athena bathed in the lake. Pair a walk here with the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine for a full day in town.
The lake also hosts the town’s biggest night. At midnight as Orthodox Easter day begins, crowds gather around it for fireworks. Other sights include small town beaches, the archaeological museum and the flora exhibition “Iris”. A market sells local fruit and vegetables on Wednesday morning, before an Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine trip later in the day.
Which other boat trips leave Agios Nikolaos, from Spinalonga cruises to Elounda?
Beyond the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine, the town is a base for longer boat days. Spinalonga, the old leper colony and former Venetian fortress, is the main target. Elounda, about 12 km away by road, sits on the same coast.
Wikivoyage lists the boat trips from the town among the things to see and calls them fascinating. The Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine is a short outing by comparison. The other boats spend more time at sea and head north along the coast towards the Gulf of Elounda.
Spinalonga is an island in the Gulf of Elounda, inside the municipality of Agios Nikolaos. Wikipedia places it second among tourist sites in Crete by visitor numbers, and sixth in Greece. Our separate page on the Spinalonga day trip covers the crossing and the island walk in full.
Wikivoyage also names boat trips up the coast to see Barbarossa’s Cave. The small fishing village of Plaka overlooks Spinalonga, 5 km from the main square of Elounda. Pair the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine with one of these longer days for a full picture of the coast.
Elounda itself is formed of seven villages and an uninhabited island area. The village of Schisma is the largest, and locals treat it as Elounda Centre. The whole community counts 2,254 inhabitants. Wikipedia calls it a tourist attraction, visited by VIPs for its seaside luxury resorts.
The island area around Elounda is called Kalydon. It covers the island of Spinalonga, the Spinalonga peninsula and the island of Kolokythas. Walt Disney filmed the mystery The Moon-Spinners in Elounda. If you prefer the road to the sea, KTEL buses serve Elounda. Wikivoyage names it among the places reached by a regular bus from the town.
How big is the group, and who is the cruise suited to?
The Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine carries a standard group of up to 38 people. The operator aims the cruise at families and friends. They see the underwater world for a day without getting wet, from a dry cabin below the surface.
The tour page and the operator’s listing agree on the number. Both give 38 passengers as the limit. Each session runs as a group activity, so you share the boat with other travellers. The Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine has no private option on these listings.
Families sit at the heart of the pitch. The operator’s listing names families and friends as the main audience. The Nautilus listing calls the tour an unforgettable experience for all the family. Children stay dry in the cabin, which suits young swimmers and non-swimmers alike.
Seats are limited, and the Nautilus listing advises you to book ahead when you plan a visit to the town. A fixed cap of 38 fills fast on busy days. Plan your Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine trip early if your dates are fixed.
Seat position matters inside the cabin. A summary of verified reviews reports that guests facing inward had limited views. Those guests suggested rotating seats so everyone gets an outward view. On an Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine trip, ask the crew about swapping seats halfway through the underwater part.
What else do travellers ask about the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine?
What is the weather like in Agios Nikolaos?
The town has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are very mild and rainy. Greek tourism peaks in mid August, says Wikipedia, so plan ahead for that week.
What do the listings include besides the cruise?
One listing names liability insurance and local taxes among its inclusions. A second booking page for the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine states that all taxes and fees are included. Read your own booking page to see what it covers.
How far is the town from the airports?
Heraklion International Airport lies about 64 km from Agios Nikolaos. The journey takes 45 to 60 minutes by car or taxi. Sitia Airport is the other choice, about 67 km from the town.
Wikivoyage says local taxis are large, clean and air-conditioned Mercedes cars. With a hire car, you will not normally need a 4 x 4, as the roads are largely paved. Watch the underside of the car on rough tracks.
Leave enough time on the road to reach your Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine cruise.
Can you arrive by ferry or bus?
No ferries run directly to Agios Nikolaos. Major ferry lines serve the port of Heraklion instead. There they connect with buses at the main bus station near the port. Frequent ferry lines also reach Sitia.
The town has a local service with modern air-conditioned buses. Regular buses link it with Elounda, Kritsa, Sitia, Heraklion, Malia and Hersonissos. Scooters are easy to hire for the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine, and wearing a crash helmet is compulsory.
What else is there to do near the harbour?
Yanni’s Rock Bar sits at Koundourou 3. Wikivoyage calls it an institution. Rock stars such as Ozzy Osbourne, U2 and Jimmy Page once went there. Modern cafe bars on the right of the harbour include Molto and En Plo.
The restaurant Mediterraneo also stands on the harbour, an easy stop after the Agios Nikolaos semi-submarine. For a swim, Almyros beach is a long sandy beach about 20 minutes on foot from the centre. A cold stream enters the sea at its southern end.
A market sells local fruit and vegetables on Wednesday mornings. Thyme honey is a local product, because the bees here take pollen from thyme.