Wrecks are wonderful. A lust for rust is common among us divers, and Cyprus is a real treat for anyone who enjoys exploring ships beneath the waves. This island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea is home to some of the world’s best wreck diving.
Here are six of the best wreck dives in Cyprus.
1. Zenobia
Location: Larnaca, Cyprus // Description: Wreck // Length: 172 meters (565 feet) // Depth: 18-42 meters (59-138 feet)
This world-class wreck is enormous. The Zenobia was a roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry that sank on her maiden voyage in 1980 and is considered one of the world’s top wreck dives. At 172 meters (565 feet) long, there’s plenty to explore, from the upper sections of the wreck to its cargo decks and the 104 lorries that remain on board. With parts of the wreck accessible to less-experienced divers and deeper sections requiring more training and experience, the Zenobia offers something for a wide range of certified divers.
The monetary value of the wreck when she sank was huge. Carrying 104 eighteen-wheeler lorries and one car (the captain’s private blue Lada), the loss of the vessel and her cargo was considerable. This must have been a huge blow to the Swedish company that built her. Today, however, the Zenobia wreck is a major attraction for divers and an important part of Cyprus’ dive tourism industry. This proves how great she is. Almost all certified divers will visit her at least once and, in my experience, will return year after year to explore another section of her.
The Mediterranean’s crystal-clear waters make doing your Wreck Diver Specialty a great idea. You can learn how to use a reel and guideline without penetrating the wreck. Then, under the watchful eye of your PADI Instructor and with the appropriate training, you can explore its interior to your heart’s content.
2. Alexandria
Location: Larnaca, Cyprus // Description: Wreck // Length: 35 meters (115 feet) // Depth: 30-40 meters (98-131 feet)
This wreck lives in the shadow of her neighbor, the Zenobia. Located just 500 meters (1,640 feet) from the Zenobia, she is hugely overlooked by many divers. But this is all the more reason to make this one for your logbook. The Alexandria, or the Alex for short, was an old fishing trawler that went down in 2006. She was on her way to Limassol to be decommissioned, but bad weather had other plans. She went down to lie on the seabed in a perfect upright position. With the right training and dive plan, this wreck can be explored in a single dive. It’s the perfect underwater appetizer before moving on to her big sister, the Zenobia.
3. HMS Cricket
Location: Northeast of Larnaca, Cyprus // Description: Wreck // Length: 72 meters (236 feet) // Depth: 33 meters (108 feet)
The HMS Cricket is a “Donald Duck” wreck dive, meaning she lies upside down on the seabed, with her hull pointing to the surface (like a duck’s beak). She can be quite a challenge because of her position in very silty conditions. This means that your buoyancy needs to be perfect before making this dive! If not for your own enjoyment, buoyancy and gentle frog/flutter kicks are vital because anyone who happens to be behind you will encounter very low visibility if you don’t. A combination of Wreck Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy and Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver Specialty courses would be ideal before this epic dive.
The Cricket was originally commissioned during World War I, and her final fate is veiled in mystery. A huge implosion hole is one of the clues to her history. You really have to turn this dive around in your mind to get a true vision of what she once was — an Aphis-class gunboat that also served during World War II. After being declared a loss and stripped for spare parts, her hull was towed to Cyprus and used for target practice before eventually sinking.
4. Liberty
Location: Protaras, Cyprus // Description: Wreck // Length: 37 meters (121 feet) // Depth: 27 meters (89 feet)
The Liberty wreck was purposely sunk in 2009. She was one of the vessels sunk as part of Cyprus’ artificial reef programme. It is a perfect place to start the Wreck Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy and Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver Specialty courses, as she’s close to shore and has been prepared for divers. All doors, windows and equipment have been removed, making the wreck suitable for basic wreck diving. Learning how to use a reel and guideline here couldn’t be easier. That’s why she is popular as a wreck training dive for guests who are eager to see the Zenobia.
5. Nemesis III
Location: Protaras, Cyprus // Description: Wreck // Length: 25 meters (82 feet) // Depth: 26 meters (85 feet)
The Nemesis III is similar to the Liberty and lies extremely close to it. Sunk a few years later in 2013, the vessel extends the area’s artificial reef and is also suitable for basic wreck diving. She lies upright on the seabed. Divers are able to explore her hull and bridge and swim through parts of the wreck. You can potentially visit both wrecks in one dive, depending on your dive plan and experience. The 90-meter (295-foot) swim between them will hone your compass skills to absolute perfection!
Note for Liberty and Nemesis III divers:
A truly unique feature of these two wrecks is their proximity to the United Nations Buffer Zone. This is commonly known as the “Green Line,” and separates the Republic of Cyprus from the northern part of the island. From the area around Protaras, you can also see the coastline around Famagusta, including the abandoned resort area of Varosha.
If your captain has a few extra minutes, ask whether you can take a look at the coastline from the boat. The history of Famagusta and Varosha is fascinating. And seeing the abandoned resort area from the water offers a striking reminder of Cyprus’ divided history. Spooky indeed.
6. Kyrenia
Location: Agia Napa, Cyprus // Description: Wreck // Length: 29 meters (95 feet) // Depth: 23-29 meters (75-95 feet)
The Kyrenia wreck is one of the newer purposefully sunken wrecks in Cyprus. Sunk in 2015 for the artificial reef programme, the Kyrenia wreck is a must for divers who love to watch reefs develop over time. Bare metal will give way to marine growth and other flora, sheltered havens of steel will provide hiding places for a few species to begin with and later bloom into a stunning array of marine life. If it’s anything like the early days of the Liberty, it will be a goldmine for nudibranchs.
Ready To Go Diving in Cyprus?
Whatever wreck you choose, Cyprus provides some of the clearest waters for seeing wrecks in all their glory. Warm sea temperatures make wreck diving a dream, while the close proximity of many of the wrecks to shore helps keep transport times to a minimum. Don’t be surprised if your non-diving family members don’t even notice your absence, as you’ll likely be back in time for lunch. You really can have it all in Cyprus.
This guest blog was originally written by Alexandra Dimitriou.