By Nikolas Bardis

Leros is a small but beautiful island of the Dodecanese, which stands out for its rich history, special architecture and beautiful beaches. However, the beauty of the island is not limited to the land, but also extends to its seabed. There, several meters below the surface of the sea lie countless war wrecks, which makes it a top diving destination, with visitors increasing year by year. Leros is the second region in the world with the most shipwrecks, after Normandy!

Most of the divers who arrive on the island, to dive in its history-filled seabed, come mainly from the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, while in recent years there are also quite a few Greek fans, who choose the island for their summer holidays, combining them with a dive in the deep blue seabed of the island. The war wrecks we see there today are from World War II (1939 – 1945), with the carcasses of sunken ships and downed planes bearing witness to the historic Battle of Leros.

During the period when the Dodecanese were under Italian Occupation, Rome showed a special interest in the island, both because of its geographical position and because of the large natural port it possessed. Thus, Mussolini, without wasting time, turned the island into a large air force base, to prevent the penetration of England in the Middle East. Before World War II broke out, the island had radically changed its image, as many ground and underground military installations were created there.

After the capitulation of the Italians (1943), the Germans, after having already conquered Rhodes, turned to Leros. The conflict was fierce, and the bombardment lasted for four days, with significant losses for both sides. The Greek destroyer “Queen Olga” and the British destroyer “Intrepid”, which had sought refuge in the port of Lakki, were sunk by the German attacks. It was the last victory of the Axis powers and the last defeat of the Allies.

Today, the war wrecks found at the bottom of Leros and in neighboring Telendos create a unique underwater museum, with many aircraft and ships that are part of both Greek and world history. Of course, and as can be expected, over time the metals change and the carcasses wear out, and an important page from the modern history of the island is in danger of being lost. However, the wrecks are visitable and there are specially demarcated areas around the island where you can go on organized dives to admire them.

Diving is undoubtedly a special experience, which offers relaxation and tranquility, while in this particular case it is also a historical underwater tour of important wrecks of the Second World War, offering an otherworldly contact with the beautiful Greek seabed. Those who have tried it have been enchanted, and return to Leros again and again, to live this special experience in the blue Aegean.