Kelyfos - the adventure "turtle" island
As you relax at some beach in Kassandra peninsula, facing towards Sithonia peninsula of Halkidiki, you may see that small island between the 2 peninsulas. Have you ever wondered what this is? It is an uninhabited small island, just opposite Neos Marmaras, named Kelyfos. It is also known as turtle island and its name comes from its shape, that looks like a turtle shell. The island covers an area of 1 square meter, and its dimensions are 1,5 km in length, 700 meters at width and 148 meters in height. The only inhabitants of Kelyfos island are wild goats and sea gulls.
Kelyfos has many steep slopes and coasts, full of pines and wild olive trees. The steep cliffs around the island are forming interesting caves in some spots, calling you for exploration. The one and only beach of the island, with its crystal clear blue waters, is a great place for swimming and snorkeling. One can access the island through the sea, by boat or ship from Neos Marmaras or Kassandra peninsula.
Underwater world around Kelyfos is very interesting to explore, thus many sites are offered for scuba diving exploration. The seabed of the turtle island is highly diverse and more than 10 spots are suitable for scuba diving.
As for the island 's history, it is considered to have been a strategic hiding point during the ancient days of Greece and in some cases during the second world war. Nowadays, on Kelyfos one can also visit the ancient roman ruins.
