Exploring Greece, we discover its beauties and hidden secrets that are often real diamonds. And one of them is the unknown Greek island that looks like a crocodile. Another feature of it is that it has only one beach. The images from above are impressive. We are talking about Proti Island. A special island, which is very close to Marathopolis.
Proti, the Greek island that looks like a crocodile from above
This small and unknown island, Proti, is reminiscent of a half-submerged crocodile or a reptile in general, as the inhabitants of the nearby places say. It has only one beach, Vourlia, which has turquoise, and exotic waters. A few meters away from the beach, is still something that makes it stand out. It’s the wreck of the 40-meter-long Anwar ship, which was bombed during World War II. It is located a few meters below sea level, in the sheltered homonymous bay.
On this island, you can also see today’s half-crushed hermitages, inscriptions of sailors on rocks, and ruins of an ancient citadel. It is believed that during the Peloponnesian War, the ships of the Athenians who came down from Zakynthos to Pylos and fell in a terrible storm had sought refuge there. During the Turkish occupation, the island was the lair of Pirate Katoulias from Mani (in the Peloponnese), who carried out attacks on passing sailboats.
You can approach the island by boat to have a unique experience and for dives that will be unforgettable to you. There is also a way to reach it by boat or by a day trip from Marathopolis.
Where did the unknown island take its name from?
The name of the island of Proti, or Protis, is probably due to the sea god Proteus, son of Poseidon. According to others, and according to the history scholar George Papandreou, the name probably comes “because it is first seen by the ships sailing away from Peloponnese, or, according to others, because it is available all the way round as if it had deep waters and the name Ploti (meaning sailable in Greek) becomes Proti by exchanging the letters ‘l’ with ‘r'”. Either way, the images are impressive, especially from above. The youtube channel haanity offers us the view from above…
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Frequently Asked Questions
Proti Island is a small, unknown Greek island located near Marathopolis that resembles a half-submerged crocodile when viewed from above. Its unique shape and appearance from an aerial perspective have earned it the nickname of the crocodile island, making it a distinctive geographical feature among Greek islands.
Proti Island has only one beach called Vourlia, which features turquoise and exotic waters. This single beach is one of the island's most distinctive characteristics and is perfect for visitors seeking a unique, secluded swimming experience.
Proti Island is rich in history with several notable attractions including the wreck of the 40-meter Anwar ship (bombed during World War II), half-crushed hermitages, sailor inscriptions carved into rocks, and ruins of an ancient citadel. The island also has connections to the Peloponnesian War and served as a pirate lair during Turkish occupation.
The name Proti or Protis is believed to derive from Proteus, the sea god and son of Poseidon. Alternative theories suggest it comes from the island being the first seen by ships leaving Peloponnese, or from the Greek word 'Ploti' (meaning sailable), with the letters 'l' and 'r' exchanged to form 'Proti'.
You can reach Proti Island by boat from the nearby town of Marathopolis. The island is accessible via boat tours or day trips, offering unique experiences including diving opportunities and the chance to explore the wreck of the Anwar ship and historical ruins from above sea level.
