BALKAN - Larnaca

The Balkan isn't about deep exploration. This is a five-meter dive, pure and simple, and we absolutely love it for a final splash or a relaxed entry into wreck diving. Imagine this: you're practically snorkeling over a piece of history. The motor vessel Balkan, built in 1944, ran aground back in '68 and eventually settled here, just barely beneath the surface. What you get is a wreck that feels like a natural reef, thanks to decades of growth. You'll glide over the visible hull and superstructure, seeing the metal plates softened by sponges and algae. Sunlight streams right through the shallow water, illuminating schools of small damselfish darting in and out of the crevices. We often spot octopus tucked away, eyeing us from the shadows, and parrotfish munching on the algae. This site is brilliant for photographers wanting to play with ambient light and wide angles, capturing the wreck's skeletal form against the surface shimmer. It’s also an easy spot for newer divers to get a feel for a large structure without the pressure of depth or complex navigation. Go at midday when the sun is highest for the best light penetration.

Location
Larnaca, Cyprus, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
35.535000, 35.770000
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
5m

Wreck History - BALKAN

Year Sunk
1968
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding
Tonnage
7,341 GRT

The vessel known as the Balkan began its life as the 'Empire Nile', a 7,341-ton cargo ship built in Scotland in 1944 for the British Ministry of War Transport. Like many 'Empire' ships, it served diligently through the end of the war and was later sold into commercial service. By 1968, it was owned by a Bulgarian shipping company and named the Balkan, plying trade routes across the Mediterranean.

In January 1968, while on a voyage from Bourgas, Bulgaria, to Lattakia, Syria, the Balkan encountered severe weather off the coast of Cyprus. The powerful storm drove the large vessel aground on the rocks near Larnaca, where it was battered by waves and began to break apart. The ship was declared a total loss and abandoned to the sea. Resting in just 5 meters of water, the Balkan is now an easily accessible dive and snorkeling site. Years of wave action have flattened the wreck, but its massive boilers and large, scattered steel plates create a fascinating underwater landscape, teeming with fish and other marine creatures that have made the shallow wreckage their home.

Best Time to Dive in Larnaca

The warmest water temperatures in Larnaca occur in January, averaging 18.5°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 18.5°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 18.5°C (air: 13.1°C)
  • February: 18.5°C (air: 12.9°C)
  • March: 18.5°C (air: 14.7°C)
  • April: 18.5°C (air: 19.1°C)
  • May: 18.5°C (air: 23.0°C)
  • June: 18.5°C (air: 26.4°C)
  • July: 18.5°C (air: 29.9°C)
  • August: 18.5°C (air: 29.4°C)
  • September: 18.5°C (air: 27.2°C)
  • October: 18.5°C (air: 23.9°C)
  • November: 18.5°C (air: 18.8°C)
  • December: 18.5°C (air: 15.2°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Larnaca

Nearest Dive Centres to BALKAN

Marine Life in Larnaca

Home to 54 recorded species including 32 reef fish, 9 sharks & rays, 4 whales & dolphins, 3 hard corals, 2 other, 2 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for BALKAN

Based on average water temperature of 18.5°C.

  • Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 19°C water
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories