Snorkelling at Marathon Beach — Clear Water and the Chance of Turtles
Zakynthos’s most famous wildlife encounters involve boats, but some of the best happen from shore. Marathon Beach, a quiet cove in the Laganas area on the island’s southern coast, offers exceptional snorkelling in shallow, clear water over a mixed sand-and-rock bottom — and sits within the National Marine Park territory where loggerhead sea turtles regularly feed and rest.
No boat required. No tour group. Just mask, snorkel, and the water.
The Beach
Marathon Beach is a 400-metre stretch of sand and pebble, less developed than the main Laganas strip and correspondingly quieter. The water is very shallow for the first 30 metres — knee-depth for most adults — then drops gradually to 3–4 metres at the outer edge of the snorkelling zone. Visibility on calm days is typically 10–15 metres.
The sandy-bottomed central section offers pleasant swimming but limited marine life. The reef patches on the south end of the beach are the productive zone: rocky outcrops colonised by sea grass, sponges, and reef fish. This is also where sea turtles are most frequently seen, coming to feed on the sea grass.
What You’ll See
Fish: Sarpa salpa (salema porgy — silvery, schooling fish), bream, wrasse in several species, damselfish, and the occasional octopus tucked under a rock overhang. The reef patches support genuinely dense fish populations.
Sea turtles: Sightings are possible but not guaranteed — this is wildlife, not an aquarium. The conditions most associated with turtle encounters are: early morning (before 10:00), calm water, and staying still rather than actively swimming after them. Turtle encounters happen to patient snorkellers.
Other: Hermit crabs, sea urchins (wear footwear when entering over the rocks), starfish in deeper water, and sea grass meadows that deserve more attention than they usually get — they’re a crucial ecosystem and beautiful in motion.
Equipment
You can rent snorkelling equipment from the beach. Bring your own if you have it — rental masks are often ill-fitting and make the experience significantly worse. A properly-sealed, low-volume mask and a dry-top snorkel are worth owning if you plan to snorkel anywhere on the island.
Reef shoes or old trainers are useful for the rocky entry points at the south end. Fins are helpful for covering the reef area without exhausting yourself.
Practical Details
Location: Marathon Beach, Laganas area, south Zakynthos
Getting there: From Laganas Town, take the coastal road east — Marathon Beach is signposted, about 2 km from the main Laganas strip
Parking: Small car park at the beach access road
Facilities: Beach bar (open May–September), sunbed rental, toilets
Best time: May–October; May and October have fewer crowds with still-warm water
Entry: Free
Marine Park Rules
Marathon Beach falls within the National Marine Park of Zakynthos. No boats may anchor in the swimming zones. Swimming after turtles is prohibited — observe from wherever you happen to be, without pursuit. Do not touch marine life of any kind. These rules exist because they work: the park’s turtle population has stabilised under protection.
