Aquaworld Aquarium & Reptile Rescue Centre — Attraction in Municipality of Chersonissos

I respect Aquaworld’s rescue mission and the staff’s clear passion for it, but left with serious concerns about animal welfare, enclosure conditions, and overcrowding.

The facility is small yet houses too many animals, including large species whose complex needs clearly aren’t being met. A mature Pacu, an active fish over 70 cm, was confined to a tank far too small, and shared it with several other fish, further limiting space and increasing stress. A blind green sea turtle was kept in a shallow, open-topped tank with a constant circular current it drifted through. Sea turtles are built for long-distance ocean swimming, not confinement with disorienting movement and no escape from visitor attention.

Reptile enclosures were even more concerning. A large Anaconda was kept in a bare, cramped tank with no space to stretch or submerge other than a bucket it was in. Other large constrictors, like a Boa and an Albino Burmese Python, were similarly confined. Most tanks had carpeted flooring, no hides, climbing areas, or substrate—failing to meet even basic needs for thermoregulation, shelter, or natural behaviour.

Even in the aquatic section, enclosure standards varied—moray eels had pipes to hide in, while a solitary Conger eel had no shelter at all, despite being a species that naturally seeks cover.

Although interactive experiences with iguanas and snakes may support funding, the venue is too small to cope with large crowds. Two staff members were present in the free-roaming areas, but there was little active intervention, and overhandling was still occurring. We saw children grabbing tortoises and free-roaming iguanas with minimal supervision, posing risks for both the animals and the visitors. This lack of control adds unnecessary stress to animals already in compromised environments.

To align with basic welfare standards, Aquaworld must reduce the number of animals it keeps, expand and improve enclosures, stop housing wide-ranging species it cannot accommodate, and better control visitor impact, potentially through timed entry or modest fee increases to support critical upgrades.

Aquaworld’s mission is commendable, but good intentions aren’t enough. Rescue must mean rehabilitation and wellbeing—not permanent confinement in inadequate conditions.

Polite note: I have now downgraded from 2 stars to 1, as you haven’t responded to my review. The only reason your establishment has such good reviews is because the general public are uneducated/poorly educated on...

We came to Crete mostly because of this place. And it lived up to its reputation. Joe was such a character and we got to interact with tonnes of animals (although Blondie interacted with our feet most of the time. There's no stopping him) in what felt like a respectful manner to them. The staff all knew their stuff and cared for the animals deeply. The fact that they have a donation area for a different animal rescue says so much about them. The octopuses were interesting and I appreciated joe explaining how they keep them for a short time and then release them, keeping it ethical. I'd really recommend going here if you can, it's a nice area and a very easy bus ride from heraklion. You WONT regret it, it's a unique and special place. Who else hand feeds a blind sea turtle every day for over 20 years?! That's true good.

I believe that the low star reviews are by people that did not engage with the staff. The main attraction of this place is the education and the fact that the animals are all being saved. This is not a place where they buy animals and earn thousands, they rescue them and give them everything they can. If you talk and ask questions you will learn a lot, and our ignorance about reptile and marine needs can be fixed simply by inquiring. If you speed through the place, then I understand finding it small, but again: it's the education they offer that makes this place far more special than zoos, and here you know where your money goes. Ours goes to Marc Anthony II, may they reign for many...

As someone who has studied Zoology with Herpetology, I totally agree with what work Aquaworld are doing- and understand that funding isn’t very good for animal rescues in the country. Yet, unfortunately, i feel they have taken on too many animals for the space they have. The enclosures are just enough for most of the animals, but lack enrichment, substrate etc… What enclosures do have substrate and enrichment, they are bare minimum. The larger snakes and fish enclosures are too small- and a lot of the reptiles seem to be exhibiting behaviours that indicate they are bored or ill. Let me reiterate that I do not believe this is to neglect at all- i believe there is too much going on for the staff and animals!! Outside, where the reptiles roam free is amazing- except today we witnessed small children standing on the iguanas tails, playing with the tortoise and grabbing the ones that roam- this isn’t fair and they need to be taught that this will lead to injury of either the animal or themselves, after all the point of this rescue centre is to educate!! I do not say this to prevent people from going to this establishment- but i think customers must make more effort to support, and fund this company as much as possible so they can work on these things. The work they do is incredibly important!! I really hope the staff and animals get the break that they deserve, proceed to educate, and improvements are made for the welfare of...