Zenobia Shipwreck - Larnaca
The Zenobia isn’t just a wreck, it’s a fully-fledged artificial reef that just happens to be a capsized ferry. We love how the Zenobia absolutely dominates the seabed off Larnaca. You drop onto the starboard side, the ship lying on its port, and the sheer scale of it hits you immediately. We’re talking about an entire upside-down city of steel. Our favourite dives here always involve exploring the upper car deck, where you can still make out the shapes of the trucks, some still chained down, others broken free and scattered. The light filters in through the windows and openings, creating these eerie, beautiful shafts as you fin through the massive spaces. You’ll often spot massive schools of silver-cheeked toadfish hanging in the open holds, watching you with their big, curious eyes. Down on the promenade deck, the black leather sponges are everywhere, softening the harsh lines of the metal. If you’re experienced and comfortable with penetration, venturing into the restaurant or bridge offers a whole new level of exploration, but always with a guide who knows the ship inside out. This wreck suits divers who appreciate history, scale, and a slightly haunting beauty.
- Location
- Larnaca, Cyprus, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 34.897243, 33.657620
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: MPA Zenobia Shipwreck
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 Zenobia Shipwreck
- 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 Zenobia Shipwreck
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