Scuba Diving Cyprus, Dive Zenobia wreck, shore dives, boat dives and voted number 3 wreck in the world to dive, Zenobia diving available from Scuba Tech Diving Centre, Cyprus...

Dive Zenobia, Cyprus

Zenobia Wreck

The Zenobia Wreck in Cyprus is voted the number 3 wreck in the world to dive and is known throughout the diving world as 'THE ZEN'.

Sitting in 42metres of seawater, just 1500 metres from the coast of Larnaca, Zenobia's place in the diveable wrecks Hall of Fame has been sealed.

Zenobia-The History

Zenobia is a roll on roll off ferry that sank on her maiden voyage from Sweden to Syria. She never reached her destination, as computers problems with the ballast system caused her to begin to list not far off the coast of Cyprus. Each time the Ship's captain tried to compensate for the listing, she would begin to over-correct and list to the other side. Eventually, a distress call was placed to the cypriot authorities. Zenobia was not in good shape!

The response was not quick enough coming and bit by bit, the crew worked to remove the Computer Systems and the Passengers from the ship as Zenobia continued to list, firstly to the bow then to port side.

The last time Zenobia began to list to port side all passengers and the crew finally had been evacuated. Unfortunately, a Port side door had been left open and water crept into the ship. There was no hope left for Zenobia now, she was sinking and her only hope was to be towed into shallow water in the port of Larnaca, Cyprus.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view)by the time the authorisation to dock in Larnaca arrived, there was nothing but bits of ship floating on the surface.

Zenobia cyprus, cargo of trucks and eggs and bones

Zenobia-What's all the fuss about?

Zenobia is the perfect wreck for all certification levels of diver as the top of the wreck sits at 18m at 28 metre wide, she stretches down to the sea-bed at 42metres and is partially buried in it.

Diving the outside of the wreck, there is plenty to see. The articulated trucks that went down with Zenobia are scattered at varying depths from 25metres to the sea floor and there are still 2 trucks hanging on chains to Zenobia's deck.

zenobia resident moray eel at the propellor

The Zenobia's Propellors are found at the stern of the wreck, one at 23metres and one at around 38metres. Monty, our resident Moray eel lives in the top propellor, always ready for a photo opportunity.

The canteen and the Bridge are both found at around 27metres and are nice little swim-through penetrations for all level of diver.

For more Advanced divers, there is the more advanced penetration dive through the Zenobia's Main Lorry deck. This runs 72metres and allows the Diver to see the

Dive Zenobia Cyprus, canteen for suba divers to explore

wreckage of the trucks and cargo in the Lorry decks.

For Technically trained divers, there is a second lorry deck, which runs the length of the ship(172m) and holds a car and a JCB. Don't forget your reels and torches for this dive. equally there is the engine Room, which is accessible to Technical and Rebreather divers Diving the Zenobia.

Scuba-Tech Diving Centre offers our divers a choice between one long decompression dive (around 90 minutes) on the Zenobia or two recreational dives, depending on the experience and qualification level of the divers.

Our charter boat offers plenty of shaded deck space and solid kitting-up benches, leaving port at 9am. Generally, we are back at the dive centre by 3pm.

Zenobia-The History

*Recreational Trips from €105 inc. guide, 2 cylinders up to 34% Nitrox

*Technical Trips from €120 inc. twinset, stage cylinder, CCR cylinders, Nitrox