A Rhodes submarine cruise takes guests into a cabin below the waterline to watch fish through large windows, off Mandraki, Lindos or Kolymbia. It is one of the Greek tours on Greece VIP.
This post covers what the cruise includes, where the boats leave from and how a semi-submarine works. It also covers the Mandraki, Lindos and Kolymbia routes. Sea, weather, the best season and common questions come last.
Each section ends with a Rhodes submarine cruise or a nearby trip that can be booked online.
What does a Rhodes submarine cruise include?
A Rhodes submarine cruise includes a coastal boat ride and time in an underwater cabin with large windows. A diver feeds fish in front of the glass. Live commentary, a cool cabin and a skip-the-line ticket come on the Mandraki boats.
The glass-bottom submarine cruise from Mandraki counts 1,490 reviews and scores 4.5 out of 5. It was booked 8 times in a single day this week.
That boat calls its hull an underwater observatory with 360° windows. A professional diver feeds hundreds of fish in front of the glass. One reviewer had only seen a diver in full gear on TV.
The Yellow Submarine from Rhodes Town counts 941 reviews. Its air-conditioned cabin has 22 large undersea windows. The captain tells the history of the city from the upper deck.
A Rhodes submarine cruise on either Mandraki boat is listed as wheelchair accessible. Both allow free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
- Photos: The Yellow Submarine sells a souvenir photo on board.
- Families: Reviewers praise the trips for young children.
- Not included: Food and drinks stay extra on the glass-bottom boat.
A Rhodes submarine cruise at Lindos or Kolymbia adds a swim stop and a free drink.
Where does a Rhodes submarine cruise leave from?
A Rhodes submarine cruise leaves from Mandraki Harbour in Rhodes Town or from Vlicha Beach near Lindos. A third boat sails from Kolymbia Harbour on the east coast. Mandraki holds two boats. Lindos and Kolymbia each run one semi-submarine with swim stops.
The glass-bottom boat meets guests on Plotarchou Plessa at Mandraki, opposite a harbour café. Guests arrive 15 minutes before departure.
The port authorities ask for each passenger’s nationality, passport number and date of birth before boarding.
The Yellow Submarine sells its trips at a desk close to the Rhodes courthouse. Its route covers Mandraki, the Grand Master’s Palace and the Old Town. Rhodes Old Town tours cover that ground on foot.
The Lindos boat sails from Vlicha Beach, and a hotel transfer can be added at booking. The Kolymbia boat runs a morning and a midday departure from Kolymbia Harbour.
- Language: The Lindos and Kolymbia crews speak Greek and English.
- Dress: Mandraki guests dress for the weather on deck.
- Combo: A bus ticket pairs the Mandraki submarine with city sights.
A Rhodes submarine cruise from Mandraki returns to the same harbour where it starts.
How does a Rhodes submarine cruise stay above water?
A Rhodes submarine cruise uses a semi-submarine, a surface vessel that cannot dive. Its passenger cabin sits below the waterline, with large windows in the hull. On the Mandraki boat, the observatory sits 2.5 m below the surface.
A true submarine is a pressure vessel under heavy outside pressure. A semi-submarine faces only the pressure of a surface boat with a similar draft.
Low pressure near the surface lets the windows be large. In certain designs, the windows wrap around the larger part of the hull below the water.
The cabin always stays open to the air, so no special air supply is needed. Passengers can climb from the cabin to the open deck at any time.
A Rhodes submarine cruise on the Lindos boat keeps guests dry, and no swimming skill is needed. Its underwater cabin is air-conditioned for the summer heat.
- Cousin: Glass-bottom boats work the same way, with a shallower draft.
- Status: Semi-submarines hold no international class of their own.
- Range: Local authorities can limit how far they sail.
A Rhodes submarine cruise therefore suits guests who want sea life without diving.
What does a Rhodes submarine cruise see from Mandraki?
A Rhodes submarine cruise from Mandraki sees the harbour and the Grand Master’s Palace from the deck. It passes the spot where the Colossus stood, Elli beach and the Tourist Harbour. Then guests go below to watch fish.
The fish gather outside the port, where the diver hand-feeds them. The Yellow Submarine calls its viewing area the underwater world of Rhodes Bay.
One combo ticket pairs a hop-on hop-off bus with the Mandraki submarine. It counts 211 reviews and stays valid for one day from first use.
The bus stops at Monte Smith, San Francisco, the New Marina and the Tourist Harbour. It also stops at the Old Town, the Town Hall and the Aquarium. Another stop serves Psaropoula Square and the Diagoras statue.
A Rhodes submarine cruise on that combo comes with audio in nine languages, from Hebrew to Russian. A reviewer on that ticket spotted a turtle through the windows.
- Second combo: A newer bus and submarine ticket counts 12 reviews.
- Clear water: Combo reviewers praised the clear water and the fish.
- Diver: A reviewer said the diver went above and beyond.
A Rhodes submarine cruise from Mandraki shows the Old Town walls from the water.
Which Lindos route does a Rhodes submarine cruise follow?
A Rhodes submarine cruise at Lindos starts at Vlicha Beach. It follows the coast past the Acropolis of Lindos. It passes the Tomb of Kleovoulos, Lindos Beach and the chapel above St Paul’s Bay. It ends with a swim in Navarone Bay.
A Rhodes submarine cruise on the longer Lindos trip passes Lion’s Head Cove. There, the viewing area looks out beneath the waves. A fish-feeding stop follows, and guests feed the fish themselves.
The cabin is darkly lit and decorated with the fish and sea life that guests see outside.
Both Lindos cruises include free Wi-Fi and one free drink. The longer cruise adds a toilet and live commentary with local legends. Snacks and extra drinks cost more.
The shorter cruise counts 237 reviews, and the longer one 23 reviews with a 4.7 score. A reviewer found noodles and life jackets on board for the swim.
- Kids: One family sailed with children aged 3 and 8.
- Sound: One reviewer wished the crew used a microphone.
- Private: The Lindos boat hosts proposals, birthdays and private sunsets.
A Rhodes submarine cruise at Lindos leaves snorkelling gear out of the shorter trip.
What does a Rhodes submarine cruise add at Kolymbia?
A Rhodes submarine cruise at Kolymbia adds two swim stops and free snorkelling masks. The semi-submarine sails along Kolymbia Beach, then beneath the mountain of Panagia Tsambika. Guests swim at Agios Fanourios Bay and at Cape Tsambika.
The boat runs a morning and a midday departure from Kolymbia Harbour. Its underwater cabin gives panoramic views as it cruises the beach.
A fish-feeding stop lets guests watch fish up close as they feed beside the boat. The route then passes rock formations and Tsambika Beach.
At Cape Tsambika, guests jump off the boat into warm, clear water. A soft drink or a beer from the onboard bar comes with the trip.
The cruise counts 99 reviews and a 4.8 score, with a top-rated badge. One family swam at two spots, fed the fish and jumped off the boat.
- Windows: A reviewer found the viewing windows very clear.
- Crew: Reviewers praised the two hosts who ran the trip.
- Masks: The crew supplies goggles for snorkelling.
Swim stops like these also suit snorkeling tours on Rhodes along the east coast.
How do sea and weather shape a Rhodes submarine cruise?
A Rhodes submarine cruise needs calm, clear water, since its windows sit below the surface. Off Kolymbia, a marine model put June waves at just 0.18 m on average this year. The June peak there stayed at 0.52 m.
July waves off Kolymbia averaged 0.30 m and topped out at 0.84 m. August averaged 0.24 m, with a 1.04 m peak on 29 August.
September waves there averaged 0.23 m. Winter brings the roughest sea: January averaged 1.13 m and peaked at 5.12 m on 22 January.
Wind at the Rhodes station averaged 13.8 km/h in July and 12.0 km/h in June. West winds led from April to October, and July’s top gust reached 54.7 km/h on 24 July.
The Yellow Submarine’s captain can change the route for weather or other important reasons. Safety and comfort come first in those changes.
- April storm: A 4.22 m wave hit Kolymbia on 1 April.
- Winter gust: The Rhodes station logged 109.4 km/h on 21 January.
- Last December: Waves off Kolymbia peaked at 3.48 m.
A Rhodes submarine cruise in summer meets the lowest waves of the year on the east coast.
When is the best season for a Rhodes submarine cruise?
A Rhodes submarine cruise finds warm water from June to October. Off Kolymbia, the sea averaged 27.1 °C in July this year and peaked at 29.9 °C. June averaged 25.0 °C, rising from 21.8 °C to 27.9 °C.
By mid-October, the water off Kolymbia still averaged 26.3 °C. Last October averaged 24.7 °C there, and last November 23.0 °C. The sea peaked at 30.1 °C in August.
The coldest month was March, at 17.9 °C. April averaged 18.4 °C, so spring swim stops meet cool water.
Air at the Rhodes station averaged a 31.0 °C high in July and 30.4 °C in August. June averaged 28.3 °C and September 28.0 °C. July’s top air reading reached 35.8 °C on 29 July.
October highs averaged 24.3 °C at the station this year. Swim stops at Navarone Bay and Cape Tsambika meet water above 27 °C from July to September.
- Calmest: Off Kolymbia, June brought the lowest average waves.
- February: Water off Kolymbia averaged 18.1 °C.
- Last December: Water off Kolymbia averaged 21.4 °C.
Warm months also suit boat trips from Rhodes to beaches along the coast.
What do travelers ask about a Rhodes submarine cruise?
A Rhodes submarine cruise raises questions on children, swimming, wheelchair access, what to bring and reviews. The Mandraki boats suit all ages. No swimming skill is needed, and swimming at Lindos stays optional.
Is a Rhodes submarine cruise good for children?
Yes. The Lindos boat calls itself family-friendly, and the fish feeding excites younger guests. A Mandraki reviewer said the children loved it. The Mandraki boats are listed for adults and children of all ages.
Do guests need to swim on a Rhodes submarine cruise?
No. Swimming stays optional on cruises with a swim stop. The underwater cabin keeps guests dry. The Mandraki boats make no swim stop.
Is a Rhodes submarine cruise wheelchair accessible?
The two Mandraki boats are listed as wheelchair accessible. The bus and submarine combo is listed the same way. The Lindos and Kolymbia listings carry no such note, so guests check with them first.
What do guests bring on a Rhodes submarine cruise?
Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and a camera or phone. Trips with a swim stop add a swimsuit and a towel. Mandraki guests also carry passport details for the port authorities.
What do reviewers say about a Rhodes submarine cruise?
One called the Yellow Submarine brilliant from start to finish and praised its friendly staff. A Kolymbia reviewer named it one of the best trips of the holiday. A Lindos reviewer found the fish and rocks below the sea crystal clear.