Hellas Underwater Explorers to Host 3rd International Diving Conference in Athens

The 3rd International Conference on Advances in Technical and Recreational Diving and the Protection of the Underwater Environment will take place in Athens this November, uniting leading figures in underwater exploration, marine science, and diving education from around the world.

Organized by Hellas Underwater Explorers (HUE) in collaboration with The American College of Greece, the event will be held at the Event Halls, 6 Gravias Street, Agia Paraskevi, from 11:00 to 18:00 on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Celebrating 30 Years of Exploration

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Hellas Underwater Explorers, Greece’s largest and most accomplished diving exploration team. Founded in 1995 by George Petrou, the organization has played a pivotal role in advancing technical diving, cave exploration, and underwater research across the Eastern Mediterranean.

The conference will feature a historical retrospective highlighting three decades of HUE’s expeditions and discoveries, as well as a personal presentation by Petrou, tracing his diving journey that began in 1982.

A Distinguished Line-Up of Experts

The program brings together a diverse panel of specialists to discuss developments in underwater archaeology, hyperbaric medicine, marine conservation, and cutting-edge diving technology. Among the featured speakers are:

• Dr. Dimitrios Kourkoumelis, Head of the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, Hellenic Ministry of Culture
• Dr. Ioanna Efstathiou, Head of the Ephorate of Speleology and Paleoanthropology, Hellenic Ministry of Culture
• Anastasia Miliou, Director of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation
• Dr. Vassilis Giannopoulos, Geologist and cave diver, University of Athens
• Dr. Pavlos Vavasis, Director, Hyperbaric Medicine Center
• Ahmed Gabr, Guinness World Record Holder for the deepest open-circuit dive (332 metres)
• Kostas Thoctarides, professional diver and ROV expert
• Stratis Kas, technical diving instructor, filmmaker, and author
• Konstantinos Bakopanos, Divesoft Liberty ECCR Instructor

Topics will explore access to underwater archaeological sites, the legislation surrounding cave diving, the ecological importance of mesophotic coral habitats, the role of rebreathers in exploration, and advances in underwater robotics.

Greetings and Recognitions

Opening addresses will be delivered by Yiannis Mylonakis, Mayor of Agia Paraskevi; Konstantinos Mazarakis, General Director of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation; Kostas Triantafyllou, Regional Manager at PADI; and Dimitris Galinas, President of the Hellenic Diving Federation (EOUDA).

In recognition of exceptional contributions to diving, marine conservation, and the promotion of Greek underwater heritage, HUE will also present a series of awards to distinguished individuals within the diving community.

Free Entry and Public Participation

The conference is non-profit and free to attend, reinforcing HUE’s commitment to education and open knowledge-sharing within the diving world. Participants are encouraged to register in advance via the official conference page.

Throughout the day, catering services will be available, and limited parking will be provided at The American College of Greece. Due to the packed schedule, audience questions will not be taken live during presentations, but attendees can submit up to three questions in advance—no later than November 8, 2025—specifying which speaker each question is for.

Supported by the Diving Industry

The 2025 conference is backed by a strong network of supporters including Divesoft, InDepth Magazine, EgyptAir, Cressi-Sub, Dynamic Nord, Nikos Kartelias Diving, Athens Hyperbaric Diving Center, Gabr Tek, EOUDA, Thoctarides ROV Services, and Adamidis Bros.

For full program details and registration information, visit the official Hellas Underwater Explorers conference page.