The Northern Sporades. The last before we reach the Greek Mainland

I did cover Kira Panayia in the last blog, the first of these islands we reached coming over from Limnos. There is a row of them before you enter the Orei Channel between Evia Island and the Greek Mainland.

Our first stop was Patitiri Harbour on Alonissos. It didn't sound all that interesting, but it is another gem of a place. It didn't start well however... on the way in the kids noticed one of those water parks, the water based ones with all sorts of inflated monsters to climb on, jump off, get blown off, slide off and fall off.

Happy kids, happy wife, happy wife.... well pass the beer nuts.

So we resolved to hire a car whilst on the island and make that one of the venues. Junior pressure meant it was to be the very first venue, the very first thing on the very first day... We arrived,got situated with beach beds and umbrellas 5 Euros. The kids made their way over to the floating fun park, only to be told that the season had ended... yesterday!

One of these kids really needs to learn how to handle disappointment...

Ah well, the water was crystal clear and about 26 degrees but nothing was going to change the mood, so we set off to a very nice spot for lunch.





Tucked into this tiny bay, a choice of seafood taverna's, a cold half kilo of Rose' and all was right with the world... for the adults that is.

We had planned to stay on Alonnisos for one day, but Sal suggested I went for a dive. I popped over to the local dive center with the kids and booked myself on a trip the following day, 9:30am to 2:00pm, two dives... and, as a result of  incessant nagging I asked if they did introductory dives for kids, confident that they did not.

What was I thinking, this is Greece, not Nanny State Australia. Of course the did!

This is John,their dive instructor. They were given the full deal, culminating in a half hour dive down to three meters!
They even got a certificate saying they'd successfully completed the 'Bubble Maker Program'
"Can we stay, can we do it again tomorrow, please, please, please". They absolutely loved it.












I got taken out with a Swiss guy, Roland and a dive master across to some uninhabited islands in a very fast rib. The first dive was to 20 meters among the rocks and crevasses. Loads of soft corals and sea life. Not the large creatures you'd sea in Australia, but enough to maintain interest and get back into the swing of scuba diving.

The second dive, he tentatively suggested a wreck dive, however it sits at 30 meters. I have an open water ticket which allows for 18 meters. I was comfortable to do it as all the same safety rules apply and once again, this is Greece.


New tank, full wet suit and down we went. Unreal. A ghostly old wreck, a  refugee boat complete with twin Perkins engines and almost the entire hull, a large resident Gropa and Scorpion fish amazingly camouflaged, a little shy but became used to our presence.

Unfortunately my camera only goes to 10 meters. Roland's went the whole distance and I'm waiting on him to Drop Box some of his shots to me.

At 1:30pm on the 6th September we left this lovely little hamlet and headed for what must be one of the nicest anchorages we have been to. Panormou South Bay on Skopelos. The south bay hangs off a much larger bay, the water is exquisite and it requires anchoring and taking a long line ashore to stop the boat from swinging allowing room for more boats. So beautiful the spot, it called for a bottle of bubbly which we enjoyed while sitting on our long line chatting to our Kiwi neighbour who joined us in the water.

After an undeserved siesta, we dropped the dinghy and headed across the larger bay to the Taverna for dinner. A Taverna is a Taverna is a Taverna, but every now and again you come across one where you are made to feel at home in a laid back environment with food to match. This was just such a place. We ate, we enjoyed and headed home in the dark for a night cap and bed.

At 3:00am we woke to the sound of a rising wind. In no time it was howling straight down the bay and onto the beam of all anchored yachts. I had dived on our anchor and was satisfied that it would withstand a hurricane.

Not so for a couple of yachts further to windward. They lost their anchors and to make matters worse, they were still attached to the shore by their long lines. They were in a world of pain as all we could hear was the bang as their yachts crashed into each other and adjacent boats. Nothing we could do but watch the flashing torch lights and listen to the recriminations being hurled about. They eventually got it sorted, anchored in deep water in the middle of the bay and were gone by first light.