SeaTV · Greece · Dodecanese Islands · Anthony Quinn Bay
Anthony Quinn Bay (Rhodes) — The “Guns of Navarone” Cove for Diving & Snorkelling
36°19′.39N · 28°12′.68E. Famous quiet small bay 15 km / ~7.5 NM SE of Rhodes town — named after the actor Anthony Quinn, who fell in love with the bay during the 1961 filming of “The Guns of Navarone” (and reportedly bought land here, though the deal didn’t stand). Rocky beach, exceptionally clear water, ideal for diving and snorkelling. Day-stop only — open to the east.
Anthony Quinn Bay is a small, quiet cove on the SE coast of Rhodes, about 15 km / 7.5 NM SE of Rhodes town and the marina · the bay was renamed after the actor Anthony Quinn, who fell in love with the location while filming The Guns of Navarone here in 1961. The defining feature is the exceptionally clear water around the rocky shore — ideal for swimming, snorkelling, and diving. This is a day-stop visit, not an overnight: the bay is open to the east, so swell rolls straight in from any easterly wind component.
⚠ Reality check:
→ Day-stop only · open to E winds · don’t overnight
→ Rocky beach · bring water shoes / flip-flops
→ Crowded in season · early morning visits get the bay quiet
→ Watch tripper boats · the bay is on the day-tour circuit from Rhodes town
⚓ Quick Facts
Position
36°19′.39N · 28°12′.68E
Distance from Rhodes Marina
~7.5 NM SE
Distance from Rhodes town
15 km SE
Beach type
Rocky · clear water
Best for
Diving · snorkelling · swimming
Use as
Day-stop only (open E)
⚓ Anchoring at Anthony Quinn Bay
Day-Stop · Open E · Rocky Shore · Clear Water
Position: 36°19′.39N · 28°12′.68E · SE coast of Rhodes about 15 km / 7.5 NM SE of Rhodes town · in the area near Faliraki Beach.
Character: Small, quiet cove with rocky shoreline · clear water ideal for diving, snorkelling, and swimming · the geological setting (rocky cliffs and underwater rocks) gives the bay its visual character.
⚠ Open to the east: Any E or NE wind component sends swell straight in · use only as a day-stop · move on for overnight.
Anchor strategy: Standard anchor in clear sand patches between the rocky areas · check the holding · the bay can be busy with day-tour boats from Rhodes — give them sea room.
Restaurant ashore: A small restaurant overlooks the bay · accessible via the path from the parking area above.
The Anthony Quinn Story
“The Guns of Navarone” · 1961
In 1961, parts of The Guns of Navarone were filmed on Rhodes — a major Hollywood production starring Gregory Peck, David Niven, and Anthony Quinn, based on the Alistair MacLean novel about a WWII commando raid on a fictional Aegean island. Quinn fell in love with this bay during filming. Originally called Vagies Bay, it was renamed Anthony Quinn Bay in his honour after the film’s success.
The Land Deal That Didn’t Stick
Quinn reportedly tried to buy land at the bay following his attachment to the area · multiple later land disputes and Greek-government nationalisation actions in the 1980s-90s meant the deal didn’t finally stand · the bay returned to public ownership. The story is a piece of local folklore as much as fact, and the bay’s name stuck regardless.
Wider WWII Aegean Connection
The Guns of Navarone was based loosely on the actual Battle of Leros (November 1943) · the Italian-then-German occupation of the Dodecanese during WWII left layered traces across the islands · Anthony Quinn Bay’s filming location is one of those touch-points where Hollywood narrative and actual Aegean wartime history connect. See Leros Island for the historical context.
Diving & Snorkelling
Why this bay: The clear water, rocky underwater geology, and the cliff edges going down create a good snorkelling and diving environment · expect typical Aegean fish life around the rocks · visibility is generally excellent.
From the yacht: Drop the swim ladder · the depth around the anchorage drops off quickly so don’t go far before checking conditions · a buddy in the water is sensible.
From shore: A swim from the rocky beach gives access to the cliff-edge underwater zone · diving schools from Rhodes town run trips to the bay if you want a guided dive.
Wind Strategy
N-NW Meltemi: The bay’s east-coast position gives some shelter from the N-NW summer Meltemi blowing across the island · usable in moderate Meltemi.
⚠ E-NE winds: Open to easterlies · swell straight in · move on if any E component forecast.
Best time of day: Early morning (before tripper boats arrive ~10-11 AM) or late afternoon (after they leave) · the bay quiets significantly outside the tour-boat window.
Pro Tips for Anthony Quinn Bay
Day-stop only. Open to E winds · don’t plan an overnight here · sail back to Rhodes Marina or down to Lindos for the night.
Bring water shoes / flip-flops. Rocky beach · bare-feet entry is uncomfortable.
Visit early or late. The bay is on the Rhodes day-tour circuit · arrive before 10 AM or after 4 PM to skip the boat traffic.
Bring snorkel gear. The clear water and rocky underwater geology are the bay’s main feature · don’t miss the chance.
Combine with Lindos in one day. Day-sail SE: morning swim at Anthony Quinn (~7.5 NM), then continue ~16 NM further to Lindos for the afternoon and the acropolis · daytime arrival at Lindos required (no harbour lights at night).
Routes from Anthony Quinn Bay
Back N to Rhodes Marina: ~7.5 NM N. See Rhodes Marina.
SE further down the coast to Lindos: ~16 NM SE. See Lindos, Rhodes.
Dodecanese full route: See Dodecanese — Our Route.
Emergency Numbers — Rhodes
European Emergency: 112
Greek Coastguard: 108
Coastguard Distress (VHF Ch. 16): Universal
Rhodes Marina (Ch 71): +30 2241 440970
Related SeaTV Pages
Rhodes Detail Pages
Day-Sail to Anthony Quinn Bay?
7.5 NM SE of Rhodes Marina · clear-water diving + snorkelling · “Guns of Navarone” filming location · early morning or late afternoon for the quiet · day-stop only (open E).
“Anthony Quinn Bay is the small, quiet, clear-water cove on the SE coast of Rhodes that the actor fell in love with while filming The Guns of Navarone in nineteen-sixty-one — the rocky shore drops into the kind of underwater geology that makes the snorkelling worth the seven-and-a-half nautical mile day-sail from Rhodes Marina. Arrive early or late to skip the day-tour boats, bring water shoes for the rocky beach, treat it as a swim-stop rather than an overnight because the bay opens to the east, and the shortest cultural-and-Hollywood detour on the Rhodes east coast opens up.”
— SeaTV Visual Pilot · Dodecanese Edition
