Permit· Santorini (Thira)· Greece — Cyclades

Caldera Mooring Buoys: Rules & Locations

36° 24.1′ N · 25° 23.2′ E

Since anchoring is impractical in the 300 m-deep caldera, yachts rely on a scattering of buoys: excursion-boat buoys at the Palea Kameni hot springs, buoys around Nea Kameni, the shared buoys at Skala and Oia, and private buoys at Thirasia.

Western CycladesCentral Cyclades

Practical

Coordinates: an OSM-mapped buoy in the Palea Kameni hot-springs bay. Mapped buoys there (OSM) cluster at 36.3995-36.4017 N 25.3805-25.3882 E, and a floating mooring line (36.3994 N 25.3808 E) is tagged 'reserved for excursion ships and short-term mooring, e.g. 20 min', so do not tie up on it for long. North of Nea Kameni two buoys sit at about 36.4124-36.4126 N 25.3941-25.3944 E and one at 36.4140 N 25.3923 E. Sailingissues (March 2026): up to 7 pointy and spherical buoys on the south side of Nea Kameni are free for the night once the tripper boats have left; Skala has one buoy under the funicular shared by several shore-tied yachts and others south of the pier; Oia/Armeni (Finikia) has a large rusty buoy at 36.4602 N 25.3813 E; Oia, Ammoudi and Thirasia residents rent some of their buoys. Captain John's buoy at Thirasia costs EUR 25 per stay (sailingissues; Noonsite quotes about EUR 50 a night, so verify locally). Rules of thumb: tripper boats have priority during the day; the large iron buoys can damage small yachts, so use a long bridle and chafe gear and keep rigging clear; never leave a yacht unattended on a caldera buoy (Noonsite). Reefs and rocks surround Palea Kameni and the Nea Kameni shoreline (OSM rock marks); approach in good light. Under the 2026 seismic decision (to March 31, 2027), parts of Fira Old Port remain restricted.

Best for

Picking a legal, safe buoy inside the caldera

Season

Apr-Oct; day buoys busy 10am-5pm

Nearby