WHY CAPE SOUNIO? The combination of ancient history and natural wealth create the mythical uniqueness of the Sounio area. The protected area of the Sounio National Park with its ancient metal mines and the imposing Temple of Poseidon embrace the hotel. Cape Sounio Bay has some of the cleanest and clearest waters in the Saronic Gulf. It is protected from winds and rough seas.     POSEIDON & POSEIDONIAS Believe it or not, under the Temple of Poseidon grows a “Poseidonias Forest”! If you swim off the beach you may have noticed some dense green seaweed underwater. This Poseidonias seaweed is a valuable indicator that the local marine life is healthy and balanced. It is found in only a few coastal areas of Greece and is protected though the European Union as one of the most important marine biotopes. Its main threat is from ignorance and lack of interest.

Its role is important because: It oxygenates the water (1 m² of Poseidonias emits 4 to 20 litres of oxygen per day) It helps in the maintenance of the marine eco-system. Over 400 types of seaweed and 1000 forms of animal life are found amongst its fronds, and it offers a safe hiding place for eggs and newly born marine animals/fishes. The roots anchor the sand so that beach erosion is reduced.   This hotel collects the surplus seaweed from the beach and takes it to our private composting area from which it will be re-used in our hotel gardens. Ambassadors will snorkel over the “underwater city”, photographing their favourite creatures using waterproof digital cameras, and learn the “jobs” of each creature they saw and understand the food chain involving the fish and their neighbours. By learning principles of interconnectivity from the Poseidonias, Ambassadors draw lessons that apply to responsible living on land: energy efficiency, waste reduction and integrated communities. On night snorkel outings they witness how the sea comes to life during the transformation of its inhabitants from light to darkness.