Diving in Larnaca

Just off Larnaca lies one of the world's great wreck dives: the Zenobia, a brand-new 172-metre roll-on/roll-off ferry that capsized and sank on her maiden voyage in 1980, taking her cargo of more than a hundred articulated lorries down with her.

She now rests on her side in warm, clear water, and is routinely ranked among the top five wreck dives on the planet.

The scale is the thing.

The 'Zen' is enormous and remarkably intact, with the lorries still chained in ranks on her decks, and she offers something for a wide range of divers: her upper side sits shallow enough for the newly qualified, while her depths, cargo and penetration lines give technical and experienced divers a lifetime of exploring.

Warm Mediterranean water, good visibility, easy boat access from Larnaca and a wreck this significant make it one of the most rewarding and accessible major dives in Europe.

Diving an enormous, intact shipwreck: the 172-metre Zenobia lies on her side in warm, clear Mediterranean water, her cargo of lorries still ranked on the decks.

The wreck spans depths from around 16 metres at the shallow upper side to 42 metres at the seabed, so it suits a range — the top is within reach of newer divers, while the deeper decks, holds and penetration routes are for the experienced and technically trained.

Expect good visibility, warm water, and the eerie grandeur of a huge modern ship underwater. Boat access from Larnaca is short and easy. Penetration and deep sections carry real risk and need proper training.

Book with a Larnaca dive centre — the Zenobia is a short boat ride out, and operators run daily trips, so it's easy to arrange.

Match your dives to your certification: an Open Water diver can enjoy the shallower upper side, while the deeper decks and any penetration require Advanced, wreck and often technical qualifications, plus appropriate gas — don't exceed your training on this wreck.

Dive it from April to November, when the water's warm and clear; a wetsuit suffices most of the season. Reach Larnaca easily by air. Do it over several dives to appreciate the scale, and consider a guide familiar with the wreck's layout.