Emerald Bay the highlight of our sailing adventure — Anti Paxos
Every Greek Island has its own special place. A view, a location, an event. There is always one particular spot on an Island that remains prominent in everyone’s memory. For us it was Emerald Bay on Anti Paxos.
Anti Paxos is a small island 2 miles south of Paxos its 1 mile wide 2.5 miles long with only a few houses, that are very difficult to see on this lush green island. The island has no fresh water or electricity either, what it does have is Emerald Bay.
Named Emerald bay due to its brilliant green/blue clear water, which is created by white ‘chalk like’ sandstone that covers the bay. The clarity of the water has an underwater visibility of more than 300 yds.
Leaving Mongonisi on Paxos and are adopted home ‘Carnayo Gold’ we headed to Emerald Bay. It’s August and the height of the Italian season; Dimitris and Francesca (Carnayo Gold Lounge Bar) recommended to get there early to anchor in a good spot before all the other boats arrive.
Anchoring off shore we dropped our anchor, Cristina said she could see it all the way to the bottom 8 meters below. Once in the white chalk sand we dragged the anchor into a clump of weed securing us to the bottom. All around white cliffs blue/green water and slowly bobbing yachts can be seen.
Swinging on our anchor I make breakfast as Cristina returns from swimming in the aquarium (As she calls it), over breakfast she describes her findings in detail with pleasure. We’d heard plenty about Emerald Bay and were looking forward to exploring further.
Rowing our little inflatable dinghy to shore we soon make camp on the beach amongst the early visitors to the bay, looking back out to sea every colour from dark blue to emerald green in every graduated colour possible can be seen. Just like an abstract painting the white yachts at anchor ad to the scene creating an abstract of primary colours in motion before our eyes. To the north of the beach is a concrete causeway where day-trippers from Paxos arrive, this causeway creates a man made rock pool that’s used to store many inflatable dinghy, as the people from their yachts begin to come ashore.
There’s plenty of opportunity to snorkel along the rock outcrops that extend from either ends of the beach, but for us it was the bays stark natural beauty and specifically the colours that left us mesmerised. Anchoring over night in Emerald Bay is not very safe so most of the yachts return to Paxos in the evening leaving the place empty over night.
Our next port of call was Taverna Voutoumi. Only 100 yards behind the beach and a world away from the hot sun soaked beach. Located amongst the dense green foliage that covers all of Anti Paxos it provides a welcoming watering hole for those that seek shelter during the hottest parts of the day.
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Tags: abstract painting, anti paxos, blue water, colours in motion, emerald bay, emerald green, greek island, green water, inflatable dinghy, italian season, sailing secets, white chalk
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