Caique Cruise Marine Adventure

The Marine Adventure Caique Cruise is run by a marine biologist who is passionate about the local marine wildlife.

The cruise operates daily from Fiscardo and on Fridays from the port of Polis on Ithaca.

Groups of 17 guests spend the day aboard a converted Greek fishing boat or 'caique' cruising local waters in the channel between Ithaca and Kefalonia and discovering what goes on beneath the barnacles.

It's an excellent day out with snorkelling lessons, eqipment and lunch provided.

The island of Kefalonia has a wealth of marine wildlife from the monachus monachus which is a very rare and critically endangered monk seal that hides in sea caves to the more easily found octopus - if you know where to look.

Jamie Stirling is a marine biologist who knows how to find a sea cucumber as well as an octopus's garden in the sea. Although lunch is included - it's strictly vegetarian with all the finds of the day being returned unharmed to their safe havens after spending a day on the boat in a specially constructed perspex aquarium.

Departing at 9.00 from Fiscardo Port near the Captain's Cabin restaurant, the cruise sets off across the Ithaca channel to a secluded beach. This is an ideal place to practice snorkelling after learning how to use the snorkelling equipment which is provided. The waters here are very clear and it is a safe environment in which to practice.

For the more confident swimmers there is the chance to go exploring for one of the many broken and dismantled Second World War sea mines that are dotted along the coast line of Ithaca.

The cruise later sets off for to a stunning island in the middle of the channel known as Dhaskalio or Asteria.

Surrounded by unique rock formations and underwater reefs this area is a haven for marine life and a superb snorkelling stop. It is also one of the best areas to come across the fantastic octopus which lurk amongst the rocks.

For the the lunch stop the cruise heads for a sheltered cove or bay where you have the chance to swim, sunbathe or join in the hunt to collect examples of marine life to display in the onboard aquarium.

After lunch, there's an informal and informative talk on the marine life that has been gathered. This is a lot of fun and gives everybody a chance to see these amazing animals at first hand without even getting wet!!

As the cruise heads back to port there is a last snorkelling stop near a fascinating shipwreck. Here you have the chance to go snorkelling again over the remains of a mysterious old fishing trawler which lurks in the shallow waters.

The cruise finishes at 16.00 hours in the port of Fiscardo.

One of the most fascinating creature has to be the Octopus. Jamie has had many years' experience in collecting spicimens and knows how to recognise an octopus's hideaway. Once spotted, he will dive beneath the waves and squirt some strong saline solution which should make the octupus dart out of its home to be collected for the day.

The variety of sea creatures that can be collected is just amazing.

There are different types of starfish. See how they catch their prey.

Instead of avoiding sea urchins with poisenous spines, if they are carefully collected they will amaze you as once they are removed from the sea they can walk delicately across your hands so that without pressure there is no danger of their sharp spines hurting you.

Agia Kiriaki translates as Saint Sunday. She is one of the last few traditional working caiques in the area. A caique is simply a Greek working boat, like a fishing or transport boat.

She takes her name from the Island of Levkas just to the north of Kefalonia. Here in the early 1930's archaeologists discovered a small cave on a peninsula of land outside the town of Nidri. In the back of the cave was a religious icon, a painting of a saint. This was Agia Kiriaki or Saint Sunday.<

She was built in 1947 in the busy sea port of Patras on the mainland of Greece and is made wholly from Cypress and Eucalyptus wood.

She started her life as a cargo boat running endless trips around the Ionian Islands. She is a gaff rig boat with a powerful diesel engine. Now converted for recreational cruising she is also equipped to the latest European Safety Standards.

Adults and children over 12 Price EURO 65
Children between 3 and 12 Price EURO 45


The price includes full day out, use of all equipment, masks and snorkels, fins and wetsuits, a comprehensive vegetarian lunch with wine or soft drink and the education and information.

Trip runs from Fiscardo 0900 to 1600 hours

The excursion also picks up from Port Polis on Ithaca one day a week (probably Friday).

This trip tends to get fully booked and it is recommended that you reserve your seat in advance of travelling to Kefalonia.

Agni Travel has reserved the caique for Monday excursions and is taking advance reservations for the cruise. If you prefer to go on an alternative day of the week your name will go on a waiting list.

Payment can be made in advance with secure online credit card transaction. Full payment will be required when the balance of your Agni Travel accommodation payment is due 8 weeks before departure.

If you are not booking an Agni Travel holiday, the cruise can still be booked in advance.

To check availability send an email with your preferred date of cruise to Francesca at Cephalonia Connections.
email
homers@otenet.gr

If due to weather conditions the trip has to be cancelled, you will be offered an alternative day according to availability. Otherwise full refund will be made. If you pay by credit card, refund will be by credit card. If you pay by bank transfer in Euro, refund can be made in euro. If you wish to cancel the trip for any reason, cancellations are accepted up to two weeks before the cruise with refund minus admin. fee of 30%. For cancellation within two weeks there is no refund but tickets are transferable to other passengers as long as we are advised of new passengers' name (for port authority regulations). All cancellations must be in writing. No shows or late-comers have no refunds. (The trip leaves at 9.00 a.m sharp).