Larnaca is defined by one ship: the 172 m ro-ro ferry Zenobia, capsized on her 1980 maiden voyage and lying on her port side in 16–42 m just offshore — routinely ranked among the world's top wreck dives, backed by modest Mediterranean reef.
Destination info
Conditions, highlights, and the resident marine life.
Conditions
Water and air temperature across the year.
WaterAirDryShoulderWet
Description
The MS Zenobia, a brand-new 172 m Swedish roll-on/roll-off ferry, capsized on her maiden voyage on 7 June 1980 after a ballast-system fault and sank about 1.5 km off Larnaca with more than 100 articulated trucks still chained to her cargo decks. She lies on her port side from roughly 16–18 m down to 42 m and is consistently listed among the world's top ten wreck dives: the starboard hull suits newer divers, the propellers, bridge, and cafeteria reward experienced ones, and the truck-filled cargo holds and engine room are genuine technical territory where divers have died — penetration is for wreck-trained divers with a guide only. The honest context: Cyprus offers warm, calm, very clear water (16–17°C in winter to ~28°C in summer, visibility often 20–30 m) over low-relief rock and seagrass with modest fish life, much of it wreck-attracted — large dusky groupers, schooling barracuda, amberjack, morays, and now abundant invasive lionfish. The supporting cast — the inverted WWI gunboat HMS Cricket, the 63 m Elpida sunk in 2019 as an artificial reef, and easy shore sites at Green Bay and Cape Greco an hour east — fills out a trip, but the Zenobia is the reason to come. Diving runs year-round; April–November is best.
Highlights
What makes this dive worth the trip.
The 172 m Swedish ro-ro ferry Zenobia capsized on her maiden voyage on 7 June 1980 and lies on her port side in Larnaca Bay between 18 m and 42 m — counted among the top 10 wreck dives worldwide and reachable in minutes by boat from Larnaca's dive harbours.
More than 100 articulated trucks went down with the ship and many still hang chained to the cargo decks; signature tour features include the two massive propellers, the ro-ro loading doors, lifeboats, the bridge, and the cafeteria — enough ship that divers log dozens of dives without repeating a route.
The waters around the Zenobia are a designated Marine Protected Area with fishing prohibited within a 3-mile radius, which is why the wreck concentrates Larnaca's fish life: large dusky groupers, schools of barracuda, moray eels, turtles, and the occasional passing dolphins.
Marine life
21 species you’re likely to encounter on a dive here.
Dive sites
5 signature sites at this destination.
Zenobia
A 172 m ro-ro ferry lying on her port side roughly 1.5 km off Larnaca, sunk on her maiden voyage in June 1980 with more than 100 trucks aboard, and routinely ranked among the world's top wreck dives. The starboard hull starts at about 16–18 m, the seabed is at 42 m, and operators run her as a two-dive day: stern first for the propellers, loading doors, and hanging trucks, then the bow, bridge, anchor, and lifeboats, with the cafeteria swim-through at around 24 m for experienced divers. The upper hull is comfortable recreational diving in usually calm, clear water; the cargo decks and engine room are advanced penetration that has claimed lives and requires wreck training and a guide. Most operators ask for Advanced Open Water or equivalent plus logged-dive experience for the deeper routes.
16–42 mintermediateDay boatLightVisibility 15–30 m
Elpida
A 63 m German-built (1965) cargo ship scuttled off Voroklini, about 2 km offshore and a short boat ride from the Zenobia, in December 2019 as part of Cyprus's artificial-reef programme. She sits upright with her masts at 10 m and a maximum depth of 30 m; windows and doors were removed before sinking, so the holds, bridge, and engine room offer easy, well-lit penetration practice compared with the Zenobia. Marine life has colonised quickly — groupers, amberjack, cornetfish, damselfish, octopus, and pufferfish are regulars. Operators ask for Advanced Open Water or equivalent. A sensible warm-up wreck before the main event.
10–30 mintermediateDay boatLightVisibility 15–25 m
HMS Cricket
A 72 m British Insect-class river gunboat built in 1915 that served in both World Wars, was stripped after bomb damage in 1942, towed to Larnaca Bay, and used as RAF target practice until she sank in a 1947 storm. She lies upside down on sand at about 29–32 m, and the scoured hollow beneath the hull lets divers swim under the wreck and enter the hull through escape hatches. It is a compact, atmospheric dive with a genuine WWI story — bream, groupers, morays, octopus, nudibranchs, and lionfish live around the plates. Boat access only; Advanced Open Water or equivalent recommended for the depth.
27–32 mintermediateDay boatLightVisibility 15–25 m
The Chapel (Cape Greco)
A scenic shore dive below the clifftop chapel of Agioi Anargyroi in Cape Greco National Forest Park, entered by steps and a giant stride from the rocks. The terrain drops steeply from about 5 m to 25 m along a boulder wall riddled with nooks, with sea grass on the flats and a maximum depth of around 30 m; average touring depth is a comfortable 10–15 m. Octopus, morays, squirrelfish, wrasse, and damselfish are the staples, with occasional turtles, and the entry cove collects coins and jewellery dropped by cliff jumpers overhead. Surge at the entry in any swell is the main hazard; otherwise it suits all certified divers.
5–30 mintermediateShoreLightVisibility 15–30 m
Green Bay
A sheltered, walk-in shore site at Protaras, about an hour east of Larnaca, and the standard training and try-dive venue in Cyprus: pool-calm water over sand and seagrass to a maximum of around 11 m. A cluster of Greek-statue replicas sits at about 10 m, ancient amphora fragments are scattered on the bottom, and the 'Fish Rock' area draws large schools of sea bream alongside regular green turtle visits that earned the site its 'Turtle Bay' nickname. It is genuinely a beginner site — experienced divers will treat it as a relaxed second dive or a night dive rather than a destination in itself.
3–11 mbeginnerShoreLightVisibility 10–20 m
Where to dive & stay
Local dive centers, resorts, and hotels.
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