Regions Environment and Spatial Planning Committee gave the authorisation to operate the first diving park in Crete. Under the supervision of the Apokoronas Municipality, Chania, the marine park is set to operate in the coastal area of Bros Gialos Bay, outside the protected Natura 2000 area. The 15-acre park with shipwrecks and 38 artificial reefs will propose to divers groups and individuals 3 20-meter-deep routes from Georgioupoli, Almirida, Kalives, Marathi and Bros Gialos harbors.
This is part of a major plan to fight seasonality of the sector and to enrich and diversify the tourist product, as authorities already encouraged specific winter tourism for december 2017-march 2018. Another 3 diving parks are on study and planed to be created in Stalida (Hersonissos), Mononaftis (Agia Pelagia), and Mirabello Bay (Agios Nikolaos).