Zenobia Shipwreck
Zenobia shipwreck is one of the most important diving destinations not only of Larnaca province but of whole Cyprus.
At a distance of 1.4 kilometers off the coast of Larnaca or 2 kilometers from McKenzie beach, the Zenobia shipwreck is considered to be amongst the top 10 diving spots in the world with about 100000 visitors every year, promoting the region as an ideal destination for enthusiasts of underwater exploration.
It is the largest shipwreck in the Mediterranean and it forms an artificial reef which was created in 1980 when the homonymous cargo ship Zenobia with a length of 172 meters was sunk in the area. The ship was loaded with 108 trucks, cars, air conditioners, toys, 1 million eggs and 140 passengers, traveling from Malme of Sweden to the Mediterranean and Syria.
After the stops in Heraklion and Piraeus, halfway through the trip the ship presented problems in pumps which were putting more water than is needed in certain tanks, resulting in a problem in the ship’s balance. After the necessary repairs in the water pumping system, the ship resumed its journey but on 3 rd of June, while it was in Zygiou region, it stopped in Larnaca where it was found that the problem persisted. While anchored and with the whole stuff safe on the land, the ship tilted to the right and on the 7 th of June, 1980 at 2.30 am, it sunk 43 meters below sea level.
Nowadays Zenobia shipwreck with its cargo is home to more than 8 types of sponges in various sizes and colors, corals, sea anemones and various microorganisms and more than 25 species of fish, such as bream, barracuda, tuna, groupers, eels, breams, and seaweed, octopus, turtles and more. Most of the cargo is intact in the seabed; cars, trucks and the 1.000.000 eggs are still preserved. The colors and the plethora of life forms living on the reef enchant divers who visit the shipwreck.
Most diving schools of Cyprus start the dive from 17 meters, at the top of the shipwreck, and reach 43 meters below the sea level. The visibility which is very good as it reaches the 50 meters and the temperature of the water (between 16°C during winter and 28°C during summer) allow diving in Zenobia shipwreck all the seasons of the year making this underwater paradise an ideal destination for diving enthusiasts.
The most inexperienced divers can take a tour of the outside of the ship, watching the trucks that have been scattered around it, while the more experienced can enter the first garage and the indoor areas. However, diving in Zenobia shipwreck requires a certificate of advanced open water (AOW).
It has been named the Titanic of the Mediterranean as it sunk during its first journey and it is easily accessible as it is only 10 minutes away from the shore.