MEGISTI - Larnaca
The Megisti, just a stone's throw from Larnaca, isn't your average deep wreck. It’s barely a wreck at all, in fact. We love this site for its sheer accessibility and the fantastic story behind it. This old steamship ran aground in a storm way back in 1968, and while it was declared a total loss, parts of that 89-meter hull are still right there, hugging the surface. What you get here is a unique, shallow exploration. Think of it as an open-air history lesson. Snorkelers and very new divers will appreciate being able to fin right over the remnants, seeing how the light plays on the metal. We’ve found huge schools of juvenile damselfish flitting around the rusted plates, and sometimes a curious octopus will peek out from under a twisted beam. It’s more of a gentle drift over history than a penetration dive, perfect for getting comfortable in the water while still experiencing a genuine wreck. We'd suggest aiming for a calm morning; the visibility is usually excellent then, and you can really make out the ship’s impressive scale even in the shallows.
- Location
- Larnaca, Cyprus, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 35.556667, 35.741000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 1m
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 MEGISTI
- 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 MEGISTI
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