The Zenobia was a Swedish ferry launched in 1979 that capsized during her maiden voyage on June 7, 1980, sinking in the coastal zone of Larnaka city. The wreck is considered to be the best dive site in Cyprus, and one of the top 10 wreck dives worldwide. Avid divers visit Cyprus from all over the world to explore this captivating diving spot, with fans returning each year, since exploring all the compartments of this ship requires multiple visits. The 172-metre long wreck was sunk on its port side at 42 metres (138 ft) while the shallowest point is at 18 metres. In good weather conditions, visibility can reach 30 metres. The current speed at this site is relatively low all-year-round, which makes Zenobia a suitable dive destination for almost all qualified divers. Zenobia wreck is an ideal site for advanced divers or for experienced tech divers who are able to conduct wreck penetration dives. One of the most fascinating facts is that the cargo of the ship (with lorries and trucks) is still onboard for divers to visit.

The marine life on the Zenobia wreck is abundant and diverse. Since the area surrounding the wreck has been designated as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) for many years, no fishing activities are allowed within the vicinity of 3 miles. Therefore, depending on the season, divers have a chance to encounter large dusky groupers, schools of greater barracudas, moray eels, cardinals, rainbow wrasses, lionfish, nudibranchs, sea stars, and a variety of schooling fish like damselfish and sparids. Important and fascinating additions are large turtles that patrol the wreck as well as the occasional dolphins. Last but not least, the Zenobia wreck is home for a large number of coral species as well as sponges, bivalves, bryozoans and many crustaceans.

Area: Larnaka Bay

Access: Boat 

Distance from shore: 3.7 km 

Coordinates: 34.9170° N, 33.6568° E 

Dive type:  Wreck 

Diving level: Advance Open Water 

Visibility: 30m 

Water temperature: 15-28 °C

Maximum depth: 42m

Currents: Low 

Difficulty level: Medium – Advance

Species list of most common marine life encountered at Zenobia wreck:

Mediterranean rainbow wrasse / Coris julis

Ornate wrasse / Thalassoma pavo

Squirrefish / Sargocentron rubrum

Damselfish / Chromis chromis

Blue-spotted cornetfish / Fistularia commersonii

Yellowspotted pufferfish / Torquigener flavimaculosus

Grey triggerfish / Balistes capriscus

Mediterranean parrot-fish / Sparisoma cretense

Red Sea goatfish / Parupeneus forsskali

Dusky spinefoot / Siganus luridus

Marbled spinefoot / Siganus rivulatus

Two – banded Sea bream / Diplodus vulgaris

Comber / Serranus cabrilla

Striped sea bream / Lithognathus mormyrus

White sea bream / Diplodus sargus

Dusky grouper / Epinephelus marginatus

Goldblotch grouper / Epinephelus costae

Cardinalfish / Apogon imberbis

Red scorpionfish / Scorpaena spp.

Saddled seabream / Oblada melanura

Painted comberfish / Serranus scriba

Moray eel / Muraena helena

Lionfish / Pterois miles

Common octopus / Octopus vulgaris

European barracuda / Sphyraena sphyraena

Debrio / Trachinotus ovatus

Blue runner / Caranx crysos

Purple sea urchin / Paracentrotus lividus

Long-spined urchin / Diadema setosum

Greater amberjack / Seriola dumerili

Lessepsian Sea-cucumber / Synaptula reciprocans

Dark stinging sponge /Sarcotragus foetidus

Chondrosia sponge/ Chondrosia reniformis

Pearl oyster /Pinctada imbricata radiata

Thorny oyster / Spondylus gaederopus

Cave star coral / Madracis pharensis

Hidden cup coral / Phyllangia muchezii

Average Sea Surface Temperature (°C) per month