Obroyalos
Obroyalos (Obros yalos = front shore) is a remote rocky coast neat Villa Nicolas, known mostly to locals and renowned for its emerald, clear waters while often visited by scuba divers. There is no beach, nor amenities however you will find a cement dock to dive from and a tavern that serves daily. The Greek navy has purposefully sunk some old ship wrecks in order to create a submarine water park for scuba diving. It is definitely worth a visit, a swim and a dive.
Elephant Cave
One of the most impressive spots in the entire island of Crete that combines sightseeing, paleontology and scuba diving is the submarine Elephant Cave, found right besides Villa Nicolas. This impressive in size and finding, submarine cave, was discovered in 1999 by a local fisherman and since then is has drawn great international attention by scientists, paleontologists and marine biologists. The main room is only accessible via an underwater tunnel. You may rent scuba diving gear and with the help of a certified scuba guide you may visit this impressive red Cave where Elephants’ and dear’s fossils were found, dating back 50.000-60-000 years ago when this indigenous Elephant habited Crete, and the land was connected to Minor Asia. Today the cave is a refuge for the endangered Mediterranean seal species Monachus Monachus, thus it is a protected habitat and highly regulated when it comes to visiting.
Kiliaris River
About 8km to the west heading back to Chania city, you will encounter a sign showing you the directions towards Kiliaris river. It is a beautiful river starting from the fountains of the White Mountains and heading towards the northern shores of Chania prefecture. Thanks to its dense foliage and diverse flora, it has developed an ecosystem of its own, hosting various mammals, rodents, birds and fish. Along the river, locals have cleared a path where it is very pleasant for long walks and once a year, a run is being held in order to show off the area’s natural assets and teach the younger generations the merits of environmental protection. It is an ideal excursion for the entire family and a picnic is highly suggested.