COURAGE - Larnaca
We always find ourselves drawn back to the Courage, not for massive pelagics or technicolor reefs, but for a real sense of history. This old carrier, sitting shallow at just 10 metres, is a fantastic dive for when you want something a bit more relaxed, or if you’re just getting comfortable with wreck diving. Built in 1950, it ran aground in 1977, and you can still see so much of its original structure. The bow section is our favourite, often swarming with damselfish darting in and out of the corroded metal. We love swimming through the holds, imagining what cargo it once carried on its way from Marseille to Iskenderun. Light filters in, creating an atmospheric, almost ghostly feel. Look closely and you’ll spot nudibranchs clinging to the hull and small moray eels peeking out from behind the twisted beams. It’s a gentle wreck, perfect for extending bottom time and really soaking in the details without worrying about depth or complex navigation. Try to hit it on a calm morning; the visibility can be excellent then, letting you appreciate the sheer scale of the ship.
- Location
- Larnaca, Cyprus, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 36.182335, 35.866333
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 10m
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
- ABDULLAH H - 7m (wreck)
- Akkum Burun - 16m
- Akkum Kovuk - 13m (cave)
- Akyar Duvar - 17m (wall)
- Akyar Gizli Koy - 13m
- ALEXANDRIA - 21.45m (wreck)
- Alpha Divers
- Ammos tou Kambouri Beach - 8m
- Anfora Koyu - 17m
- ARMANT - 14m (wreck)
- BALKAN - 5m (wreck)
- Banc Charner (reef)
- BRAVO NEK - 23m (wreck)
- Canyon, Cape Greco - 16m (cave)
- Caves, Cape Greco - 13m (cave)
Nearest Dive Centres to COURAGE
- Alpha Divers - ["PADI"]
- Amphibious Diving Center
- AQUADEMI DALIS MERKEZI
- Cyprus Dive Shack - ["PADI"]
- Cyprus Underwater Explorers - ["PADI"]
- Deep Dive Diving Center
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
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo) - Reef Fish
- Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) - Seagrass & Algae
- Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) - Reef Fish
- eelgrass (Zostera marina) - Seagrass & Algae
- Brown Skate (Raja miraletus) - Sharks & Rays
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
- One-finned Shark (Heptranchias perlo) - Sharks & Rays
- Blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) - Sharks & Rays
- Gulper shark (Centrophorus granulosus) - Sharks & Rays
- Thornback skate (Raja clavata) - Sharks & Rays
- Bushy Coral (Cladocora caespitosa) - Hard Corals
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
- Velvet belly lantern shark (Etmopterus spinax) - Sharks & Rays
- rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Grey Dolphin (Grampus griseus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Three-tooth Cavoline (Cavolinia tridentata) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Silver-cheeked Toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for COURAGE
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