Wreck Diving In Cyprus 2020

It's the time of year where we are all thinking about our summer vacations and where to go. Cyprus, the home of one of the top 10 wrecks in the World, The Zenobia, can be a popular choice for scuba divers but is this the only wreck in Cyprus that we can dive?

All the dives listed will carry a prerequisite of at least an Open Water Diver certification, but Advanced, Enriched Air Diver, Deep Diver, Boat Diver and Wreck Diver are all certifications that can make your wreck diving safer and more fun!

The Zenobia

Location: Larnaca, Cyprus Length: 172 meters Depth: 18 – 42 meters

This world class wreck is so big you need 2 dives to see the outside of it so that you can take your time to take in the enormity of it.. The Zenobia was on her maiden voyage in 1980 and was a roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro ferry) that left Malmo in Sweden on route to Lebanon. At depths between 18 – 42 meters and with a length of 172 meters, the Zenobia has three lorry decks for very very distinct experience levels; this wreck is perfect for anyone from an Open Water Diver to the experienced Tec divers.

Carrying over 100 articulated lorries and one car (the captain’s private blue Lada) the loss was huge to the owners but the Zenobia wreck has proved to be one of the most lucrative tourist attractions on the island.

HMS Cricket

Location: Xylofagou, Cyprus  Length: 35 meters  Depth: 33 meters

The HMS Cricket lies upside down on the seabed, with her hull pointing to the surface. This can be quite a challenge because of her position in very silty conditions, your buoyancy skills need to be of the highest standard if you want to penetrate this wreck because anyone that is behind you will encounter very low visibility if you don’t.

HMS Cricket was a Royal Navy Insect-class gunboat. She was built by Barclay Curle and launched on 17 December 1915.

During the First World War, Cricket took part in the Mesopotamian Campaign as part of the gunboat squadron operating on the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. During the Russian Civil War, Cricket served as part of the British intervention forces fighting in support of White Russian forces on the Dvina River during 1919-1920.

During the Second World War, Cricket was at China until 1940 then transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet's Inshore Squadron. On 12 July 1941 she was crippled in an air attack by Regia Aeronautica unit 97 Gruppo (Group) and its 239 Squadriglia (Squadron).

She was declared a constructive total loss on 30 June 1942 and stripped for spares at Alexandria, Egypt in 1942. Her hull was towed to Cyprus and used as a target for Royal Air Force training off Dhekelia where the hull is an attraction for scuba divers.

Liberty

Location: Protaras, Cyprus Length: 37 meters Depth: 27 meters

The Liberty lies 100 metres from the Nemesis III not far from Pernera Fishing Shelter. The first wreck to become part of the reef programme the Liberty lies in 27 metres of water. The marine life is now starting to accumulate around the wreck as the moss and algae start growing on the wreck. Due to its proximity to the Nemesis, both wrecks can be seen on the same dive or they can be dived separately.

Nemesis III

Location: Protaras, Cyprus Length: 25 meters Depth: 23 meters

The Bottom Trawler Nemesis III was built in France. In 1956 and was previously named “Thalia”.It was brought to Cyprus in 1987 where it operated in. The Eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea as well as Libyan waters. The vessel was scuttled on 20th December 2013 as part of an artificial reef programme. With a length of 24.5m and a breadth of 6.3m

It lies upright at a depth of 23m.

Kyrenia

Location: Ayia Napa, Cyprus Length: 25 meters Depth: 26 meters

The Kyrenia wreck is another of the purposefully sunken wrecks in Cyprus. Sunk in 2015 for the artificial reef programme, the Kyrenia wreck is a single set dive off the coast of Ayia Napa. A former patrol boat, the Kyrenia is a welcome addition to the wrecks we have available to dive in the Easter Cyprus area.

Costandis

Location: Limassol, Cyprus Length: 23 meters Depth: 22 meters

The Costandis is another wreck that was part of the artificial reef program headed by the Cyprus Dive Centre Association and the Fisheries Dept. this wreck was a Russian bottom trawler and lies upright on the sandbed at around 22m deep not far off the Limassol coast. The Lady Thetis was scuttled on the same day 22 february 2014 and is close by making these two wrecks a good divers day out!

Both wrecks have been sunk in low current, sandy bottom areas, to create the best conditions for the marine life to find a feeding/breeding area, and become a permanent feature of the wreck.

Fish habitats and marine life around the wreck are expected to begin developing quite quickly.

Lady Thetis

Location: Limassol, Cyprus Length: 22 meters Depth: 22 meters

Lady Thetis was a recreational cruise vessel it was built in Germany and it was registered in the Register of Cyprus Ships. Both the Costandis and the LAdy Thetis have been fully stripped to create clear and safe passage for the divers making them perfectly suitable for wreck penetration.

Elpida

Location: Voroklini, Cyprus Length: 63 meters Depth: 27 meters

Elpida (which means ‘hope’) is a commercial vessel from Greece that is 63 metres long and has been sunk to a depth of 27 metres. Lying upright on the sea bed, the Elpida is the latest addition to the wrecks we have to dive in Cyprus and due to its location, a second dive on the same day to the famous Zenobia wreck can be arranged.

All the courses and dives listed in this blog can all be booked with Micks Dive Club use this link to receive more information.

Dives on all the listed wrecks can be carried out using single set, twin set or sidemount configuration and decompression dives can also be planned depending on your qualification level. All decompression dives MUST be preceded by "Run Up" shore dives to ensure set up and safe practices are followed.