Paphos spearfishing forecast — wind, swell, visibility, tides & live cameras

• white groupermin 40 cm
  Epinephelus aeneus · 15–45 m · ⚠️ release
  Grouper (sfyrida/rofos): min 40–45 cm (DFMR). Vulnerable — release the big ones. Amateur limit 5 kg + 1 fish/day.
• dusky groupermin 45 cm
  Epinephelus marginatus · 8–35 m · ⚠️ release
  Grouper (sfyrida/rofos): min 40–45 cm (DFMR). Vulnerable — release the big ones. Amateur limit 5 kg + 1 fish/day.
• white seabreammin 15 cm
  Diplodus sargus · 0–12 m ·
• gilthead seabreammin 20 cm
  Sparus aurata · 2–20 m ·
• common dentexmin 30 cm
  Dentex dentex · 12–40 m ·
• lionfish
  Pterois miles · 5–40 m · invasive
  Eastern-Med invasive (lionfish/pufferfish). Pufferfish ☠️ DO NOT eat (TTX toxin). Lionfish — venomous spines, handle carefully.
• pufferfish
  Lagocephalus spp. · 2–40 m · invasive
  Eastern-Med invasive (lionfish/pufferfish). Pufferfish ☠️ DO NOT eat (TTX toxin). Lionfish — venomous spines, handle carefully.

• ✓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.

• 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.