A Kos glass bottom boat cruise leaves Kos Town harbour and shows the fish and an old shipwreck on the seabed through the glass. More tours in Greece cover the other Dodecanese islands from Kos.
This page covers what the cruise and the mermaid show include, the departure point in the harbour, what you see through the glass, the diver, the swim and snorkel stop, other glass bottom trips such as Pserimos, family tips, what to bring and the months the boats sail on a Kos glass bottom boat.
What does a Kos glass bottom boat cruise with a mermaid show include?
A Kos glass bottom boat cruise on the Yellow Submarine lasts 90 minutes. It includes a glass-bottom viewing area and a mermaid and diver show. The swimming stop comes with snorkelling equipment, and the boat carries life jackets and a bar.
Yellow Submarine Kos is the operator. Shortly after the boat leaves Kos Town harbour, the cruise follows the coastline. The clear water of the Aegean Sea lets you look at the underwater world from the glass-bottom viewing area. The operator’s own site schedules every trip for 90 to 100 minutes.
The booking page calls the mermaid show a highlight, especially for families with children. On this Kos glass bottom boat cruise, it lists a real mermaid and a professional diver who perform underwater. The operator’s site says you can take photos with its certified diver.
Life jackets are available on board, especially for children. A bar sells drinks and snacks, and you buy them there. The operator’s site names ice creams, coffees and refreshments.
The booking page sets a maximum of 40 guests on this Kos glass bottom boat. The operator’s site gives the capacity of the vessel as 49 people. It also lists a crew of three, one toilet and a length of 17 metres. The booking page lists a host who speaks English and Greek.
The listing says this Kos glass bottom boat cruise is designed for families, couples and curious explorers. It offers a sea outing without spending half a day on a boat. The operator’s site gives the cruise speed as 7 to 9 miles per hour.
The operator also offers the boat for weddings, engagements, private tours and school trips. You need to contact it in advance to schedule the event.
Where does the Kos glass bottom boat leave from in Kos Town harbour?
The Kos glass bottom boat of Yellow Submarine Kos leaves from the old harbour in Kos Town. The booking page gives the meeting point as Akti Kountouriotou 13. The operator says all its trips start from the main port.
The operator’s site lists its address as Kos Old Harbour, on Akti Kountouriotou. It says you can buy last-minute tickets at the desk in front of the boat.
The operator’s site lists five daily departures for the Kos glass bottom boat, at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 20:00. The site also describes an evening cruise with romantic music as you sail along the coast and enjoy the sunset.
The booking page says to check availability for the starting times. Confirm the time for your date before you walk to the harbour. The booking page offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
The street name Akti Kountouriotou also appears on listings for other glass-bottom boats in Kos. Check the name of your Kos glass bottom boat before you board. Wikivoyage says the Neratzia castle of the Knights Hospitaller dominates the port.
What can you see through the glass, from fish to the shipwreck?
The Kos glass bottom boat run by Yellow Submarine Kos shows the clear Aegean water and a shipwreck. The listing says you can explore the wreck beneath the surface from the glass-bottom viewing area without getting wet.
On this Kos glass bottom boat, the cruise follows the coastline shortly after it leaves Kos Town harbour. The listing says the clear water there reveals an underwater world. It names the glass-bottom viewing area in its inclusions. The operator’s own website adds that the boat has an underwater cabin.
The operator’s website says the trip has two stops. One is close to a shipwreck, and the other is at a sandy coast for swimming. The site also says you can explore a shipwreck close to the coast. The wreck is the one sight that both the listing and the website name.
Another Kos glass bottom boat, the speedboat from Kos Cruise Experts, has two glass-bottom viewing areas. Its listing says you pass an old shipwreck. One reviewer saw dolphins, and the captain turned the boat around for passengers who wanted a look. A listing for Dory’s Glass Bottom Boat says you watch the fish and the shipwreck through the glass.
Reviewers of the Kos Cruise Experts speedboat also say the glass views felt limited. They ask for clearer notes on what you will see. Treat a Kos glass bottom boat as a window on the sea. The wreck and the clear water come first, and any fish you spot are a bonus.
How do the mermaid show and the diver work during the cruise?
The Kos glass bottom boat cruise from Yellow Submarine Kos lists a real mermaid and a professional diver show underwater. The listing calls the mermaid show one of the unforgettable highlights, especially for families with children.
A professional diver joins the experience on this Kos glass bottom boat. With a bit of luck, says the listing, the diver shows guests marine life beneath the surface. The listing also names an experienced crew among the inclusions.
One reviewer says the mermaid swam right past the family. Another family had done a glass bottom boat before. They say the mermaid and the diver made this trip extra special. The children had not been told about the mermaid, so they were really surprised.
The operator’s website says you get the chance to take photos with its certified diver during the voyage. One reviewer adds that the crew takes a photo of you underwater, which you receive later on Facebook. Photos are part of the experience on a Kos glass bottom boat trip.
The listing gives no set time for the show. It also does not say where on the route the show happens. Ask the crew when you board. The whole Kos glass bottom boat cruise lasts 90 minutes, so ask early.
How does the swim and snorkel stop work?
On the 90-minute Kos glass bottom boat cruise from Yellow Submarine Kos, the swim stop has three options. You can jump straight from the boat, snorkel with the equipment provided, or simply swim in the clear water.
The operator’s website says this Kos glass bottom boat makes two stops. One is close to a shipwreck, and one is at a sandy coast for swimming. Every trip is scheduled for 90 to 100 minutes, so the swim sits inside a short outing.
A Kos glass bottom boat gives a view like a diving mask, but you stay dry. The swim stop is where you get wet. The operator says you can swim around the vessel while friends and family take video and pictures underwater.
Life jackets are available on board, especially for children. One parent reports floats and vests, so children jump in with the adults.
The Dory, a second Kos glass bottom boat, also stops for a swim. Its listings place the swim in the green waters of Pserimos island, with a stop about halfway through the trip.
Reviewers of this Kos glass bottom boat call the swim spot the Blue Lagoon. They say the water is clear and not too deep. One swimmer says you can stand up not far from the boat. Another says the captain stopped far from the other boats, so the water was quiet. A third reports life jackets for children.
Which other glass bottom boat trips run from Kos, such as the day cruise to Pserimos?
Next to the Yellow Submarine, the Dory is another Kos glass bottom boat that sails from Kos Town. It is a fast glass-bottom vessel, and its trip heads to Pserimos island and back, with a swim stop.
This Kos glass bottom boat trip takes 2.5 hours, according to one listing. The boat has two glass-bottom viewing areas. Another listing describes two decks with shaded areas, a top deck for the sun and a bar for drinks.
A short welcome and safety briefing comes first. The Kos glass bottom boat route then runs to Pserimos for the swim. Next comes an old shipwreck that you view through the glass bottom. Then the boat returns to Kos. One listing offers free rescheduling or a refund if bad weather cancels the trip.
The Dory tour takes a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 70 people. If the minimum is not reached, the booking page promises a refund. Audio commentary plays in English, Italian, French, German and Dutch, and the hosts speak English, Greek, Italian and German.
Pserimos is a small Dodecanese island near the coast of Turkey. The Hellenic Statistical Authority counted 84 inhabitants in its census. Taverns on the island include places that offer accommodation. A Kos glass bottom boat is one way to reach Pserimos. A daily ferry also runs from Pothia on Kalymnos.
Is a Kos glass bottom boat trip a good fit for families with young children?
Yes. The Yellow Submarine is a Kos glass bottom boat cruise of 90 minutes, short enough for young children. The operator says the boat is designed for families, and life jackets are on board, especially for children.
One parent took children aged 5 and 8 on this Kos glass bottom boat. The 1.5 hours was not too long for them, the parent wrote. The same parent says floats and vests let children jump into the sea as well as adults. Another reviewer calls it a good choice for younger kids who get restless on four-hour boats.
The mermaid show is the family highlight of this Kos glass bottom boat cruise, according to its listing. Two reviewers say their daughters were thrilled by the mermaid. One parent told the children nothing in advance, and they were surprised. A third reviewer praises the host for being good with the kids.
The cruise listing caps the group at 40 guests, which it says keeps the atmosphere relaxed. The operator lists one WC on board, so plan a toilet stop before you reach the harbour. The bar sells snacks, ice creams, coffees and refreshments.
Another Kos glass bottom boat, the Dory, is a different trip from a different seller. One reviewer took a toddler who loved the glass bottom, the top-deck steering wheel and feeding the fish. Dory reviewers also mention life jackets, noodles and floaties for children at the swimming stop.
What do you bring, and in which months do the boats sail?
For a Kos glass bottom boat cruise, bring swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, sunscreen and beachwear, as the listing says. The operator’s site says its official cruises start on the first day of the month after April.
The listing also names towels under what is included. On this Kos glass bottom boat, ask the crew whether to carry your own. Life jackets and snorkelling equipment come with the cruise, so you pack no safety gear. Drinks and snacks are sold at the onboard bar.
For the Dory trip to Pserimos, a listing asks you to bring a passport or ID for the whole experience. It also asks you to meet at the dock 20 minutes before the start. The same listing says there is no Wi-Fi aboard in open sea.
Wikipedia gives Kos a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. It lists average daily highs of 20 °C in April, 31 °C in August and 25.7 °C in October. Its table also lists 0 mm of rain in July and August. A September reviewer of the Dory boat found the wind chilly, so pack a light layer.
The operator’s site gives a start date but no end date. Ask about autumn sailings before you plan a Kos glass bottom boat day. Dory reviews are dated September and October. One Dory reviewer reports a trip cancelled because of high waves.
What else do visitors ask about a Kos glass bottom boat?
Who invented the glass bottom boat, and why is the view so clear?
Wikipedia says two men, Hullam Jones and Philip Morrell, invented it in Marion County, Florida, in the nineteenth century. Jones fitted a dugout canoe with a glass viewing box, to let tourists see the clear water of Silver Springs.
The view beats looking into the water from above, because surface disturbances no longer get in the way. A Kos glass bottom boat uses glass set below the waterline.
Where is Kos, and which sea does the boat sail on?
Kos is a Greek island in the Dodecanese chain, in the southeastern Aegean Sea. It is the third largest island of the Dodecanese, after Rhodes and Karpathos. It lies south of Kalymnos and Pserimos and north of Nisyros. The island measures 42.1 by 11.5 kilometres, and its coastline is 112 kilometres long.
The main town and port is also called Kos. The operator says all trips of its Kos glass bottom boat start from that main port.
Who built the Yellow Submarine, and how fast does it go?
The operator’s site says Exantas Marine built the Yellow Submarine in Cyprus. Its maximum speed is 9 knots. The site lists a width of 4.82 metres and a height of 3.18 metres. It also says the boat was built with the latest nautical techniques and safety regulations. The site calls this Kos glass bottom boat a specialised construction.
How do travellers rate a Kos glass bottom boat trip?
The booking page for the Yellow Submarine shows 4.47 out of 5 stars. The page for the Kos Cruise Experts speedboat shows 4.34 out of 5.
A summary of 35 verified reviews says travellers praise the friendly crew and the family-friendly setup. It calls the speedboat a pleasant short cruise. Each Kos glass bottom boat has its own page and its own rating.
What else is in Kos Town beside the Kos glass bottom boat?
Wikivoyage lists the Tree of Hippocrates, where legend says Hippocrates taught his pupils under a Platanus tree. The current tree is about 500 years old. The Archaeological Museum in the centre of town holds a statue of Hippocrates, who was born on the island.
To reach Kos Town, take the public bus from the airport, which runs via Mastichari. Daily ferries serve Kos from Piraeus near Athens, Rhodes, Patmos and Leros. The marina of Kos sits at the old harbour.