Anxiety is growing over the fate of a 34-year-old diver who is believed to have become trapped while diving at a particularly dangerous underwater spot at Limanakia Vouliagmenis.

According to reports, the man—an experienced diver and a pilot—had gone to the site with another diver. The location is just a few meters from the shore and includes a well-known underwater shaft about 28 meters deep, featuring cave-like formations and strong underground currents.

Around midday on Sunday, the accompanying diver surfaced alone and immediately alerted authorities that the 34-year-old had likely become trapped somewhere inside the shaft.

A rescue operation was quickly launched by the Hellenic Coast Guard, involving a patrol vessel, divers from special underwater units, and specialized cave divers from private teams.

The operation is considered extremely difficult due to the depth and powerful underwater currents. According to rescuers, the missing diver had equipment providing an additional 3 to 5 hours of oxygen, as well as an underwater scooter used for propulsion during dives.

Search efforts are expected to resume at first light.

The “Devil’s Well”

The site, known as the “Devil’s Well,” is a narrow, vertical underwater shaft located a short distance from the rocks, beginning at a depth of about 11 meters. It has a diameter of roughly 3 meters and reaches nearly 30 meters in total depth.

The area is especially dangerous due to strong currents—particularly around 16 meters deep—where the current can pull divers downward into a narrow underwater tunnel that leads to a cave of unknown size. Only about 150 meters of this tunnel have been explored, and some believe it may connect to Lake Vouliagmeni, adding to the site’s mystique.

The 1978 tragedy

The location has a tragic history. In September 1978, three young Americans attempted to explore the underwater tunnel and disappeared inside it. Despite multiple rescue missions, they remained missing for decades.

In 1989, only a tank and some personal items were recovered. The case was finally closed in 2007, when remains found in the tunnel were identified through DNA analysis as those of the three divers.

Following that incident, protective bars were installed at the tunnel’s entrance in the 1980s to prevent further dangerous dives. A warning sign placed at the site reads:

“Beyond this point, there is nothing worth seeing that is more valuable than your life.”

The message stands as both a warning and a reminder of the site’s dark history.