SHIPWRECKS OF CYPRUS - STORIES THAT LIVE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA - Pafos Press 13/7
Below the surface of the Cypriot sea lies a world full of shipwreck stories. Ships that once crossed the seas on commercial voyages are now part of our heritage. Each shipwreck has its own story while also contributing to the formation of a unique underwater landscape.
Vera Shipwreck
This is a Lebanese cargo ship that ran aground in shallow waters in 1972 and was initially used as a training target for the army. It was later deemed dangerous to navigation and was blown up in 1974. Today it lies in the crater created by the explosion, divided into four main sections, while its bridge remains almost intact.
Agios Dimitrios – Dimma, Chloraka
The Greek ship “Dimitrios II” is a German-built cargo ship. In March 1998, it was transporting timber from Chalkida to the port of Limassol and then to Syria. However, as it approached the port of Limassol, it encountered rough seas and was swept away by the waves. The ship ran aground in the “Fourfouris” area, while its eight-member crew was rescued by helicopter. Since then, it has remained wedged in a crevice in the rocks, making it almost impossible to move.
EDRO III – Peyia
In October 2011, the Albanian-owned ship EDRO III departed from the port of Limassol bound for Rhodes with only nine crew members on board. Due to heavy seas and mechanical failure, it was swept away by the waves and grounded approximately 30 meters from the rocky coast of Peyia. The crew was rescued, but the removal of the ship proved impossible. Today, the wreck is located in the area, which is protected and included in the Natura 2000 network.
In the 1970s, the ship of the company “Akarnania Maritime Co”, made a routine route from Yugoslavia to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, loaded with timber. Due to severe weather, the ship ran aground on the Akrotiri peninsula, engulfed in flames and sank. The ship is currently partially submerged at a depth of approximately 7 meters.
Konstantis Shipwreck
The Soviet-built trawler was built in 1989 and transferred to Cyprus in 1997. The vessel was sunk in February 2014 with the aim of creating an artificial reef, contributing to the enhancement of marine life in the area. Since then, the shipwreck, which lies at a depth of 24 meters, has become a refuge for many species of marine flora and fauna.
Lady Thetis
The Lady Thetis was a Cypriot passenger ship, of German construction, built in 1953 and converted into an artificial reef in February 2014, together with the fishing vessel Konstantis. The two wrecks were deliberately placed on the seabed and function as shelters and breeding grounds for marine organisms, contributing to the development of the marine ecosystem and being popular spots for recreation and diving. The wreck is located at a depth of approximately 18 meters.
Zenobia Shipwreck
The Zenobia is ranked among the ten best shipwrecks in the world and is considered one of the most emblematic of the Mediterranean. It is a Swedish ferry ship 172 meters long. During its journey from Athens to Heraklion, it suffered serious damage. The captain decided to take it to the port of Piraeus, where after four days and after pumping out the water from the ship, it was considered that the problem had been addressed. On June 3, during its station in Larnaca, it was found that the problem had not been solved. The ship gradually began to tilt to the starboard side, resulting in its sinking on June 7, 1980 in the port of Larnaca. Today it lies at a depth of 42 meters below the sea surface.
Ancient Mazotos Shipwreck
This is a shipwreck of a merchant ship from the late classical period, which was located in the sea area of the village of Mazotos, at a depth of 45 meters. It is the first shipwreck of this period discovered in the Southeastern Mediterranean to transport Chian amphorae at a depth accessible for diving research, a fact that gives the find particularly great scientific importance. The shipwreck was located in 2006, while systematic research began in 2007 by the Archaeology Research Unit of the University of Cyprus. It is the first underwater archaeological research carried out by Cypriot bodies, contributing to the foundation and development of underwater archaeology in Cyprus.
Helicopter Wreck
This is a British army helicopter, which sank in 1966 at a depth of 16 meters below the sea surface, following a mechanical failure. Today, the area is a gathering point for schools of fish and many octopuses, transforming the shipwreck into a small marine habitat.
Alexandria Shipwreck
Alexandria was a fishing boat that sank in 2006 after a storm. It is located very close to the wreck of the “Zenovia”, while after its sinking, the ship ended up in an upright position at a maximum depth of 31m. The marine life around the ship, its richness and variety is incredible, as the diver can see groupers, tuna, sea turtles, and many other species swimming there.
Nemesis III Shipwreck
The Nemesis III shipwreck is located approximately 600 meters from the coast, near Vrysoudia Beach in Protaras. It was built in France in 1956 and operated as a bottom trawler. The vessel arrived in Cyprus in 1987 and was subsequently registered as a Cypriot ship. It sank on December 20, 2013, in the sea area of Paralimni, at a depth of 25 meters. The process was done deliberately, with a large crowd gathered to watch the creation of yet another artificial reef in the area.
Kyrenia Shipwreck
The Kyrenia ship was sunk just off the coast of Ayia Napa to create an artificial reef. In February 2015, it was moored in the Pernera sea area, a short distance from the picturesque harbour of Ayia Napa and today lies at a depth of 23 meters.
Liberty
As part of the effort by the Municipality of Paralimni to create an artificial reef, the Liberty ship was also sunk, approximately 150 meters from the Nemesis III shipwreck. The ship was built in Greece in 1965 and was originally named “Skopelitis”. Throughout its operation, it was used as a cargo transport ship. It is 36.60 meters long and 6.8 meters wide. At a later stage, the ship was found in the Cypriot seas, where it acquired the name Liberty, by which it was known until its sinking.
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