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Scuba Diving in Cyprus
Dive Site: Zenobia
Location: 10 minutes from Larnaca
Description: 10,000 ton ferry
Length: 178 metres (584 feet)
Depth: 16 metres (52 feet) to the top of the wreck, 43 metres (141 feet) to the seabed
Visibility: 20 metres (65 feet)
Rating: *****
The Zenobia is the dive people visit Cyprus for. It is a large, roll-on roll-off ferry that was built to operate in the eastern Mediterranean. It was during its maiden voyage from Sweden to Syria that it sank. The steering was not working correctly, so the Captain made the decision to pull into Larnaca Harbour. Here engineers noticed a major problem with the onboard computer system that resulted in water being pumped into the ships ballast tanks. The Zenobia was towed into deeper waters about half a mile from Larnaca so that the engineers could work on the problem, but it was listing to an angle of 45° so it was decided that there was nothing that could be done to save the ferry. The Captain requested that the Zenobia should be taken back to the harbour, but permission was never granted as a ship of that size would effectively prevent traffic from entering Larnaca Harbour. It took two days for the ferry to sink, taking the 104 articulated lorries that it had on board with it.
Reader Reviews:
What a wreck!
I dived the Zenobia four times for about an hour each and only saw a fraction of this magnificent wreck. Thanks to a no removal rule, the wreck is greatly intact and filed with items. I descended the shot line to about 16 m and decided which way to go. The propellers are intact and lead to the seabed at 42 metres where you can find the egg lorry and its cargo. Please watch your buoyancy as divers have unfortunately crushed a number of these.
The aft truck passage is a great swim through, almost 100m long and clear with exits at the end. Check your air if you want to do the whole route as there are no exits apart from right at the end. Watch out for the oil at the larger entrance. The bridge is quite bare but there is a lift shaft to go through. The canteen and accommodation deck is quite good, but watch out for loose wires and keep your orientation or stay close to your guide.
There is plenty of sea life and the barracuda are good. Also, if you are lucky, keep an eye out for the tourist submarine that tours the wreck, as it will have divers feeding the fish so is a good show. The winch gear at the front is worth a look and so are the lifeboats. Be wary as there is a lot to see and you may drift deep. Plan this dive as to where you will want to go and it easily takes a few dives to view this wreck. Nitrox is pricey in local shop so plan ahead.
Plenty to see and enjoy on one of the best wrecks under the sea.
Ousmon Sadique, BSAC Dive Leader
Wow, what a dive site, the wreck is massive. Don't be put off by the depth at a max of 42m. The lorries, bridge, canteen, oil slicks are all great for any lover of the genuine ship wreck.
Nick Billington, PADI Divemaster
The Zenobia is an amazing dive, purely for the "ghost ship" atmosphere it has. Left to sink in the early 1980's after a computer fault flooded the ballast tanks, it lies on its port side complete with its full cargo of over 100 articulated lorries.
The seabed is littered with the remains of the cargo being carried (including perfectly preserved eggs) and the interior of the ship is still well preserved. Wildlife is not all it could be but there are large grouper and barracuda in evidence. It's a dive site I could never get bored of.
Tim Grimley
One of the best wreck dives in the world, plenty to see and (usually) excellent visibility. Make your first dive at the stern deck, descend down onto the first propellor through the swim-through by the starboard prop, max out at about 36-37m and go round the back of the rear door to the lorry deck. Then make your way along and slowly up (or you'll end up in deco if your not careful) toward the main superstructure, checking out the life boat and main mast along the way.
Second dive, drop down onto the bow taking in the bulb, the "spanker" (spare anchor!), canteen and the bridge.
Excellent dive, well worth the air fair to Cyprus!
Terry Nichols, PADI MSDT
The Zen is a great dive, loads of fish follow you throughout the dive. You can access the bridge and the anchor room but I enjoyed being outside sitting in the lifeboats. The best thing about this dive was the visibility - truly amazing. I could see the wreck clearly from the dive boat on the surface.
Chris Winfield, PADI Advanced Openwater
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