Diving the Zenobia Wreck in Larnaca: What You Need to Know

The Zenobia is the dive most people come to Larnaca for, and it regularly appears on lists of the world's best wreck dives. Here is what the wreck is, what qualification you need and how to plan your first dive.

What is the Zenobia wreck?

The MS Zenobia was a Swedish-built roll-on/roll-off ferry, 172 m long, that capsized and sank off Larnaca on 7 June 1980 on her maiden voyage, after a fault in her computer-assisted stabilising system made her list over several days. Nobody died.

She went down with her cargo, and that is what makes the dive special. More than 100 articulated lorries are still on board, many in the cargo deck, along with vehicles and other goods. The ship lies on her port side on a sand and rock seabed, and decades underwater have turned her into an artificial reef full of groupers, moray eels, lionfish, sea bream and, regularly, turtles.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The wreck lies in Larnaca Bay, about 1.5 km offshore, according to Visit Cyprus. Access is by boat only, so you dive with a dive centre: most are based in Larnaca town and along the coast towards Mackenzie and Dhekelia, and some centres in Ayia Napa and Protaras also run Zenobia trips.

Larnaca is about 10 minutes from Larnaca Airport and roughly 45 minutes from Nicosia or Limassol by car. Dive centres usually meet you at their base or at Larnaca marina.

How deep is it, and what certification do you need?

Because the top of the hull is at about 16–18 m, some centres may offer guided dives on the upper side of the wreck to less experienced certified divers (ask before booking), while Advanced divers go deeper to the decks, the lorries and the propellers. Penetration into the cargo deck and the deepest sections are for appropriately trained wreck and technical divers. Occasional currents and the depth make it a more demanding dive than it looks in photos.

How to book a Zenobia dive

1. Check your certification and logbook. Bring your card (or app) and logbook, and a recent dive record if you have not dived for a while; many centres will suggest a refresher or check-out dive first.
2. Choose a dive centre. Visit Cyprus lists dive enterprises certified to the ISO 24803 standard for recreational diving services. Ask about group size, guide-to-diver ratio and whether nitrox is available.
3. Book a package of two or more dives. One dive gives you a taste; two or three let you see the bridge area, the lorries and the stern.
4. Complete the medical questionnaire. Answer honestly; some conditions need a doctor's sign-off before diving.
5. Plan your flight. Follow your training agency's guidance on waiting before flying after diving, which matters if you are a visitor flying out of Larnaca.

Prices vary by centre and season; ask for the current rate including equipment hire and the boat fee.

When is the best time to dive?

The Zenobia can be dived all year. Larnaka Tourism Board gives water temperatures of roughly 15 °C in winter to 28 °C in late summer. July to October offers the warmest water; spring and autumn are quieter and visibility is often excellent. Winter storms can cancel boat trips, so leave a spare day in your plan.

Diving safely

• Dive within your limits. Visit Cyprus's diving guidelines stress staying within your training and computer limits, keeping visual contact with your buddy and guide, and never holding your breath.
• Protect the wreck. Do not touch marine life or remove anything from the wreck.
• Emergencies. Call 112. Cyprus has hyperbaric (decompression) clinics at Paphos General Hospital and Famagusta General Hospital in Paralimni.
• Insurance. Check that your travel or health insurance covers scuba diving at these depths; GESY does not replace specialist dive insurance. See our GESY guide.

Can non-divers see the Zenobia?

Only partly. Some Larnaca bay cruises and glass-bottom boat trips include the wreck area in their route; ask the operator what you can expect to see, as it depends on the sea and visibility. If you want to try diving, dive centres run introductory "try dives" in shallow water, and the PADI or equivalent Open Water course takes a few days. Read our boat trips and snorkelling guide for more ideas.

What else is there to do nearby?

• Larnaca Salt Lake and Hala Sultan Tekke – flamingos in winter; see our salt lake guide.
• Other Larnaca dive sites – the Visit Cyprus dive site list includes wrecks such as HMS Cricket and shallower reefs around Cape Pyla.
• Finikoudes promenade – cafés and the town beach after your dive; see our Larnaca city centre guide.

What to do next

• Explore the district in our Larnaca hub.
• Plan a full day on the coast with our Blue Flag beaches guide.