ASMARA (POSSIBLY) - Vlora

The ASMARA, or what we strongly suspect is the ASMARA, is a hulking piece of history resting in the gentle embrace of the Adriatic. Dropping down to 17 metres, the sheer scale of this 138-metre steamship is immediately apparent, even if its identity remains a touch enigmatic. We love how the torpedo blast that sent her down in 1943 left a dramatic impression, splitting the stern and creating intriguing swim-throughs for those with good buoyancy and wreck training. This isn't a colourful coral reef, but a masterclass in marine colonisation on metal. Schools of damselfish shimmer around the superstructure, while the interior offers shadowed nooks where moray eels peer out from behind rusted bulkheads. Our favourite part has to be finning along the exposed deck, imagining the wartime chaos, before slipping into the cavernous holds. The ASMARA is perfect for wreck enthusiasts who appreciate history and don't mind a bit of silt; just keep those fins high.

Location
Vlora, Albania, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
40.657333, 18.054445
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
17m

Wreck History - ASMARA (POSSIBLY)

Year Sunk
1943
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
torpedo

Built by Russell & Co., the steamship later known as Asmara was pressed into service for the Italian Navy during the Second World War. At a formidable 138 meters in length, she was a significant asset, tasked with moving supplies and personnel in the hotly contested Mediterranean theater. Her wartime service, however, would be cut short in the summer of 1943.

On August 10, 1943, while operating in the Adriatic, the Asmara was spotted by an Allied submarine. A spread of torpedoes found their mark, and the resulting explosions sent the large steamship to the bottom. She became another casualty of the intense naval conflict that characterized the war in these waters.

Today, the wreck of the Asmara rests in only 17 meters of water off the coast of Vlora, Albania. Its shallow depth and impressive size make it a spectacular dive. The wreck is largely intact, allowing divers to swim along its massive hull, peer into cargo holds, and explore superstructures now draped in sponges and home to schools of fish. It serves as a tangible and poignant reminder of the region's wartime history.

Nearby Dive Sites in Vlora

Nearest Dive Centres to ASMARA (POSSIBLY)