Ayia Napa harbour E rocksAyia Napa
borderlineexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Rock, 3–10 m, sea bream/octopus. ⚠️ Keep E of the MUSAN / Ayia Napa MPA no-take to the W.
Google MapsAyia Napa spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras
8.2
wave 0.3 m head-on
visibility5m
Dive today — wave, wind and visibility.
Sources: IPMA · NDBC · Copernicus — high confidence · data 08:10
Sources & confidence
- Sources
- IPMA · NDBC buoys · Copernicus Marine
- Method
- Model consensus, read per window
- Freshness
- Re-read every hour, per coast
Compiled by the spearo sea-state engine
The verdict comes from seven water factors and hard safety gates — not ten tabs. Go or stay.
How we score the water
Our own model
Our own forecast engine — not a third-party widget. It weighs these water factors into one go-or-stay verdict for this coast; the 0–10 dial is that verdict, read out as a number.
- Swell & wave memory
- Height, period and direction of the swell, plus the wake of recent storms — an old storm still stirs the water, and the engine remembers.
- Wind & gusts
- Speed and gusts, hour by hour — wind speed and an onshore push chop the surface and cut visibility.
- Tide phase
- Timing and range of the tide, calibrated per coast — big spring tides pull the verdict toward caution.
- Water temperature
- Sea-surface temperature — sharply cold water vetoes a green verdict.
- Currents & outflow
- Direction and drift of the current — it pushes you, and it drags turbid coastal water across where you dive.
- Rain runoff & air clarity
- Rain muddies the water inshore through land runoff, while fog and haze cut visibility at the surface.
- Coast shape & exposure
- How the coast faces the swell — a sheltered cove keeps the water clean; an exposed, head-on point takes a penalty.
Safety gates
- Thunderstorm forecast — an instant red, no exceptions.
- An official warning (MeteoAlarm / IPMA) — yellow, or red for the higher ranks.
- Missing input data — a would-be green is capped to yellow rather than overstated.
- Strong disagreement between forecast models — a green day is pulled back to yellow.
- Night hours — forced red; the window is closed after dark.
It all folds into a single 0–10 score and one verdict: go or stay.
A forecast, not a guarantee — the sea has the last word.
Where to get in, where to hunt
Entry points with coordinates
Seabed relief — promising ground
Surface
Wind, wave and the swell windows — when to go and the best hours.
spearo.app
calmupdated 08:10
Ayia Napa — solo, off the rocks
best weather window · solo, stay careful, run the checklist · calm conditions: swell, wind and visibility all normal
wave 0.3 m head-onwind 4 km/hvisibility ~7 mwindow 06:00–21:00
today, best window 06:00–09:00
fish · Visibility 7 m · Water 28.7°C
confidence high · verdict for the selected day
Whole week — tap a day. is driving swell right now.
Solo risk: carry a float · tell someone your plan and exit time · doubt = don't go. A model-based planner; the call is made on site.
Selected day
Windows, hours
and the day's trends.
The day is picked above, in the hero. Here are that day's windows, the hour-by-hour map and the trends. Tap a window to break down the conditions.
Thursday · today2026-07-23
05:46–19:54 · first quarter
▲ 06:00▼ 12:00▲ 19:00 · 0.1 m
Hours (06→20)
06
09
12
15
18
Day's trends
Tide-0.35 m
Wave0.60 m
Wind7 km/h
Water29 °C
fish activity: moonset 00:25 · moderate · moon underfoot 07:40 · high · moonrise 15:10 · moderate · moon overhead 20:10 · high
Conditions window06:00–09:00
best weather window · solo, stay careful, run the checklist fish
Hs 0.28 mperiod 2.9 s head-onwind 4→10surge 0.1viz 5 m
0.28 mup to ~0.56 · 217° head-on
2.9 sswell moderate
4→10gusts 10 km/h
0.1weak surge
0.22m/s
5 mrecent swell
28.7°C5 mm + hood
▼12:00tide turn near
Atmosphere14 kmlandmarks visible
highmoon underfoot
- calm conditions: swell, wind and visibility all normal
- dawn/dusk
confidence hightwilight
The water column
Visibility and what drives it — post-storm clearing, river plume, temperature and the thermocline.
What it is
A marine instrument,
go / no-go for solo hunting.
spearo.app folds wind, wave, swell period, visibility, tides, water temperature and risk into a single verdict — go to the spot or not. It computes 7 days ahead from open marine models (Open-Meteo, IPMA), with no sign-up and no accounts. Built for solo spearfishing off the rocks, where any mistake costs dearly.
Now live: 1152 spots across 189 stretches of coast — mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.
See all spotsThe seabed
Relief and bottom type, tides, and the depths of each spot.
On the rock
The forecast is the plan.
The call is on the rock.
The models set the window. Whether you go in is read only at the water: count the sets, watch the surge on the entry. If in doubt, you don't get in.
Entry points
Where to get in
off the rocks.
Scouted entries, coloured by today. The colour is the sea state at the spot, not a guarantee: the wash and a slippery entry you judge on site.
Open the seafloor map
Ayia Thekla reefAyia Napa
borderlineexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Low rock/sand, 3–10 m, sea bream/octopus.
Google MapsGrecian Bay E rocksAyia Napa
borderlineexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Rock, 3–10 m, sea bream/octopus. ⚠️ Busy beach — 100 m-from-bathers rule.
Google MapsNissi / Makronissos rocksAyia Napa
borderlineexposed head-on to the swell today
- window
- tide
- shelter
- hazard
- access
Reef, 3–10 m, sea bream/mullet.
Google MapsSOLO is the biggest risk: underwater you can black out from lack of oxygen silently and fatally, with no one around. Solo is never truly «safe». Below are the best weather windows; carry a buoy, tell someone your plan and exit time, and any doubt — don't go.
Surfacing
Cameras, map and reference — to hand as you come up.
Live cameras, map & reference
Cameras · live
Look at the water
right now.
Check the cam BEFORE you leave. Foam, brown/green murk, or waves washing the entry rocks = No-go. At night/in fog the cam is useless — treat it as «unknown», NOT «green».
Reference
What's in season,
what the law says.
In season now
- white grouperGrouper (sfyrida/rofos): min 40–45 cm (DFMR). Vulnerable — release the big ones. Amateur limit 5 kg + 1 fish/day.
- dusky grouperGrouper (sfyrida/rofos): min 40–45 cm (DFMR). Vulnerable — release the big ones. Amateur limit 5 kg + 1 fish/day.
- white seabream
- gilthead seabream
- common dentex
- lionfishEastern-Med invasive (lionfish/pufferfish). Pufferfish ☠️ DO NOT eat (TTX toxin). Lionfish — venomous spines, handle carefully.
- pufferfishEastern-Med invasive (lionfish/pufferfish). Pufferfish ☠️ DO NOT eat (TTX toxin). Lionfish — venomous spines, handle carefully.
Law
- ✓A dedicated «SPEAR GUN» licence (Άδεια Ψαροντούφεκου) is required — €35, valid to 31 Dec of the year of issue. Apply online at licence.dfmr.moa.gov.cy and pay by JCC; open to non-residents.
- •Water rules are not consolidated in one official act — per DFMR guidance in common practice: bag about 5 kg + 1 larger fish/day, a minimum grouper size, and a marker buoy. Treat these as guidance and confirm the current conditions with DFMR before diving (licence.dfmr.moa.gov.cy).
- ⛔ Fan mussel (Pinna nobilis) — strictly protected, taking/disturbing prohibited (mass die-off from a pathogen).
- ⛔ Date mussel (Lithophaga lithophaga) — harvesting strictly banned (destroys the reef).
- ⛔ Seahorses (Hippocampus), loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and monk seal (Monachus monachus) — protected, taking/disturbing prohibited.
Rules change and the on-water conditions are not consolidated in one act. Before heading out, get the dedicated «Ψαροντούφεκο» licence and confirm the current limits/sizes with the Department of Fisheries (DFMR) — licence.dfmr.moa.gov.cy.
Safety protocol
- Sets: watch the wave trains ≥15 min before entering; Hmax ≈ 2×Hs, the wash can run 50 m past the foam line. A lull >10 min with period >12 s = a big set «overdue», do NOT enter; enter right after a full set passes and re-check at minute 30.
- Exit FIRST: find your exit AND a backup before entering. On a rocky/boulder shore a 0.5 m rise in swell can make the exit impossible — getting pinned/unable to climb out is the main killer.
- Headland rip: prominent points often have a permanent topographic rip regardless of the model — locate it, enter/exit on the windward side, never swim against it.
- Cold: wetsuit per the SST chip; the first shiver = a metabolic surge and a drop in breath-hold → get out at the first steady shiver. Cap the session at 45–60 min below 15 °C.
- Solo discipline: buoy up; tell someone the spot and exit time; conservative breath-hold (never push it in cold/murky/surfy water); visibility <3 m — don't enter.
- Afternoon wind: on many coasts the wind builds from midday — plan to be out of the water by midday; the chop builds — get out.
- UV 11:00–15:00 (UVI ≥6): sunscreen and cover up on the surface interval.
- Solo is a fundamental risk (hypoxic blackout with no buddy). Any doubt = No-go.
Spearfishing in Ayia Napa: spots, seasons and rules
Spearfishing in Ayia Napa is about staying on the right side of very clear boundaries. The practical entries are the harbour east rocks, Nissi / Makronissos rocks, Ayia Thekla reef and Grecian Bay east rocks. The Ayia Napa MPA around MUSAN sits to the west of the harbour entry and is strict no-take; Cape Greco farther west is also a reserve, not a casual extension of the city list. First, get the Cyprus SPEAR GUN licence online for 35 EUR. Then treat the in-water details, including bag, buoy, grouper size and beach distance, as DFMR guidance to confirm before you enter.
TL;DR
- Ayia Napa is Cyprus's sheltered, clear southeast corner, with listed rocky entries mostly in 3-10 m and visibility often noted at 25-35 m.
- You need the dedicated SPEAR GUN licence. It costs 35 EUR, is obtained online at licence.dfmr.moa.gov.cy, runs to 31 Dec of the issue year and is open to non-residents.
- Unlike Greece, Cyprus has no May spearfishing ban. Do not import the Greek May closure into a Cyprus plan.
- Water rules such as bag guidance, marker buoy, grouper size and swimmer distance should be treated as DFMR guidance. Confirm current conditions with DFMR before diving.
Best spearfishing spots in Ayia Napa and Cape Greco
The Ayia Napa entries are shallow, bright and close to busy water. That is useful only if the boundaries are respected. The harbour east rocks are east of the MUSAN / Ayia Napa MPA no-take area. Nissi / Makronissos and Ayia Thekla are low reef or rock-sand settings. Grecian Bay is explicitly a busy beach setting, so the swimmer-distance question belongs in the DFMR confirmation step. Cape Greco draws searches, but the headland west of town is a reserve rather than an extra open spot.
| Spot | Type | Depth | Level | Access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayia Napa harbour E rocks | Rock | 3-10 m | Not separately rated | Access note not specified | Sea bream and octopus are listed. Keep east of the MUSAN / Ayia Napa MPA no-take boundary to the west. |
| Nissi / Makronissos rocks | Reef | 3-10 m | Not separately rated | Access note not specified | Sea bream and mullet are named. It is a tourist coast, so buoy visibility and swimmer separation need a conservative check. |
| Ayia Thekla reef | Low rock and sand | 3-10 m | Not separately rated | Access note not specified | Sea bream and octopus are listed. The low profile does not replace checking the exit, boundary and boat traffic. |
| Grecian Bay E rocks | Rock by a busy beach | 3-10 m | Not separately rated | Access note not specified | Sea bream and octopus are listed. Treat swimmer-distance practice as DFMR guidance and confirm current conditions before diving. |
Spearfishing conditions in Ayia Napa today
Ayia Napa is the sheltered southeast corner of the island, and the city note gives visibility often at 25-35 m. The meltemi reaches this side weakened. The bad sector for this coast is 120-210 degrees, with the worst direction around 170 degrees, so a southerly sea still matters. There is no local buoy station to quote for these entries. Use the forecast, any live coastal view and the actual exit from the rock before deciding.
Is spearfishing allowed at Cape Greco MPA?
Do not treat Cape Greco as a normal add-on to Ayia Napa. The Ayia Napa MPA around MUSAN is strict no-take to the west of the harbour east rocks, and the Cape Greco headland farther west is also a reserve. Stay outside those boundaries. If you cannot identify the boundary on the day, choose a different entry. The fact that the listed spot points are outside no-take areas does not remove the need to check the line.
Spearfishing white bream, dentex and grouper in Ayia Napa
The local spot notes name sea bream, octopus and mullet. Cyprus's national species table lists white seabream with a 15 cm minimum, gilthead seabream 20 cm and common dentex 30 cm. Grouper is handled with a DFMR-guidance tone: sfyrida and rofos are vulnerable, with a 40-45 cm minimum noted, and large fish should be released. Lionfish is invasive and has venomous spines. Pufferfish should not be eaten because of TTX toxin.
Do you need a licence to spearfish in Cyprus?
Yes. Cyprus requires the dedicated SPEAR GUN licence for spearfishing. It costs 35 EUR, is obtained online at licence.dfmr.moa.gov.cy, is paid through JCC, and is valid until 31 Dec of the year of issue. It is open to non-residents. Unlike Greece, Cyprus has no May spearfishing ban. Water rules are not consolidated in one official act, so treat bag guidance of about 5 kg plus one larger fish, marker buoy and grouper-size guidance as DFMR guidance, then confirm current conditions with DFMR before diving.
FAQ
Where can you spearfish in Ayia Napa?
The listed entries are Ayia Napa harbour east rocks, Nissi / Makronissos rocks, Ayia Thekla reef and Grecian Bay east rocks, outside the no-take boundaries.
Is spearfishing allowed at Cape Greco?
The Cape Greco headland west of Ayia Napa is described as a reserve. Do not treat it as an open city spot; confirm boundaries before diving.
Do you need a license to spearfish in Cyprus?
Yes. You need the dedicated SPEAR GUN licence, obtained online at licence.dfmr.moa.gov.cy. It costs 35 EUR.
How much does a Cyprus spearfishing licence cost?
The SPEAR GUN licence costs 35 EUR and is valid to 31 Dec of the year of issue. Non-residents can apply online.
Is there a May spearfishing ban in Cyprus?
No. Unlike Greece, Cyprus has no May spearfishing ban.
How far from swimmers and ports must you spearfish in Cyprus?
Treat distance rules as DFMR guidance rather than a single consolidated act. Confirm current conditions with DFMR before entering, especially at busy beaches such as Grecian Bay.
What fish can you spearfish in Ayia Napa?
The local notes list sea bream, octopus and mullet. National species guidance also covers dentex, gilthead, grouper, lionfish and pufferfish cautions.
Sources
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