What is the Ocean Viewing Index (OVI) for Balos Beach?

OVI is a 0-100 composite score combining sea color, water clarity, visibility, sea conditions, sunlight and water quality to help you decide if the sea is worth seeing today.

When is the best time to visit Balos Beach for sea views?

Start with the current and 7-day OVI forecast for Balos Beach, then choose a daylight period that also fits your plan. If you want tide pools, exposed shore, or a tide-dependent walk, check the local high and low tide times as well.

Should I use tide times or OVI for a visit to Balos Beach?

Use tide times when your visit depends on water level, such as a sandbar, tide pool, or exposed rocks. Use OVI to compare likely sightseeing conditions including sea appearance, visibility, sea state, and lighting. For a coastal trip, read both together.

Balos Beach Tides & Ocean Viewing Index

Chania, GreeceEurope/Athens

Ocean View Index

85Excellent

Next tide

03:59High Tide

Sunrise / Sunset

04:39 – 15:39

Local time

05:42

Balos Beach in Crete, a tropical lagoon of pink-tinged sand and turquoise shallows, among Greece's most dreamlike lagoons.

Ocean Viewing Index

Updated · Oct 24, 2026 01:59

Reference time: local noon · 13:09 (Europe/Athens)

Estimated

Excellent

Excellent viewing conditions. Highly recommended!

Sub-Index Breakdown

Six dimensions feed the overall Ocean Viewing Index.

Sea Color
Vivid turquoise / azure · hue
92.4
Clarity
Very clear (below 1.5 NTU) · NTU
100
Visibility
15+ m horizontal · m
100
Sea State
Calm, glassy (0-1) · Beaufort
94.7
Lighting
Low / harsh light · lux
37
Water Quality
index
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Weather Forecast

7-day marine weather forecast from Open-Meteo model.

TodayOct 24

Overcast

22°17°

2.1 m/s

SunOct 25

Overcast

21°16°

2.2 m/s

MonOct 26

Thunderstorm

19°16°

3.6 m/s

6.3mm

TueOct 27

Rain

18°15°

4.2 m/s

3.9mm

WedOct 28

Rain

18°16°

6.5 m/s

2.4mm

ThuOct 29

Overcast

18°15°

4.3 m/s

FriOct 30

Partly Cloudy

19°15°

2.2 m/s

Visibility: 32 km·Cloud: 74%

48-Hour Hourly Forecast

Hour-by-hour marine weather for the next 48 hours.

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7-Day OVI Trend

Forecast ocean viewing conditions for the coming week.

Best on Fri: Viewing conditions are Excellent; aim for the golden hour just after sunrise or before sunset. Great for snorkeling and photography.

High & Low Tides Today

Times and heights of today's high and low water.

Spring TideCoefficient: 97.6 / 120Higher coefficient means larger tide range; 120 is the largest spring, 20 the smallest neap.

Time	Type	Height
03:59	High	1.64 m
09:59	Low	-1.35 m
15:59	High	1.24 m
21:59	Low	-1.46 m

Fishing & Surf Forecast

Solunar feeding times and today's surf rating.

80Excellent35PoorView full forecast

48-Hour OVI Trend

Hour-by-hour ocean viewing outlook for the next 48 hours, dampened by rainfall.

Today's Tide Summary

A quick look at the day's high and low water.

High Tide

03:59

1.64 m

Low Tide

09:59

-1.35 m

High Tide

15:59

1.24 m

Low Tide

21:59

-1.46 m

Best Months to Visit

Average Ocean Viewing Index by month over the past year.

Jan

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Jul

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Dec

Based on historical climatology (Pitarch 2021)

Nearby Beaches

Other beaches closest to Balos Beach.

186 km away

Perissa Beach

Cyclades, Greece

255 km away

Athens Riviera

Attica, Greece

258 km away

Paradise Beach

Cyclades, Greece

426 km away

Elli Beach

Dodecanese, Greece

Frequently asked questions

What is the Ocean Viewing Index (OVI) for Balos Beach?: OVI is a 0-100 composite score combining sea color, water clarity, visibility, sea conditions, sunlight and water quality to help you decide if the sea is worth seeing today.
When is the best time to visit Balos Beach for sea views?: Start with the current and 7-day OVI forecast for Balos Beach, then choose a daylight period that also fits your plan. If you want tide pools, exposed shore, or a tide-dependent walk, check the local high and low tide times as well.
Should I use tide times or OVI for a visit to Balos Beach?: Use tide times when your visit depends on water level, such as a sandbar, tide pool, or exposed rocks. Use OVI to compare likely sightseeing conditions including sea appearance, visibility, sea state, and lighting. For a coastal trip, read both together.

Essential Information

Coordinates: 35.6000°, 23.6000°
Timezone: Europe/Athens
Region & Country: Chania, Greece

Data sources

Tides: UHSLC / FES2022b · Weather: NOAA GFS · Sea color: NASA MODIS/VIIRS