ALONISSOS – The Greek island of Alonissos, which British tour operators voted as Best Diving Destination at the Greek Travel Awards organised by the UK and Ireland office of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, has chosen to celebrate its connection with the sea this year by organising a symbolic underwater decoration of a Christmas Tree, posting a video of the event on Youtube.

The alternative Christmas event took place on Saturday, with Alonissos Mayor Petros Vafinis doing the honours, assisted by the chair of the municipality’s Tourism Committee Maria Agallou and diving instructors Dias Menis and Ilianna Gialama, along with divers Vasilis Papaioannou and Tasos Outsas and the support of the Triton Dive Center and Dimitra Mina. Residents of the island were invited to attend and bring their own Christmas decorations to put on the tree.

The video also includes the municipality’s Christmas wishes, with the message “Merry Christmas and 2023 SEAson’s Greetings!”

According to the mayor, the symbolic action seeks to highlight the fact that diving for Alonissos is a “life philosophy” for every moment of the year, and one which plays a key role in extending the tourism season, while he described the dive as “refreshing” and said the idea was warmly embraced by locals.

It follows a series of underwater events organised on the island, such as an underwater wedding in the summer. The island is also home to some great diving locations, such as the National Marine Park that is home to the protected monk seal or the Alonissos Underwater Museum.