ANDROS
Protected Area
KORINTHIAKOS KOLPOS
Why dive here
ANDROS is a wreck dive where divers can encounter dolphins and sea turtles. Water ranges 14-27°C, warmest July, August, September.
We’ve dived a few wrecks around Greece, but the *Andros* is special. This old hospital ship, bombed and sunk in 1941, rests upright in 36 metres, giving it a commanding presence on the seabed. Descending onto the bow, you can still make out the distinctive red crosses painted on its hull, a stark reminder of its tragic end. We love how the light filters through the clear Aegean water, illuminating the bridge and the cargo holds which are now home to some impressively large groupers. Look closely and you’ll spot nudibranchs crawling along the corroded metal plates. It’s a dive that rewards slow exploration. The *Andros* offers a poignant dive for experienced wreck enthusiasts. You’ll spend most of your bottom time admiring the ship’s structure, imagining its past, and observing the marine life that has claimed it. The visibility here is usually excellent, making the scale of the 79-metre wreck truly apparent. We’d suggest going in late morning; the sun angle seems to hit just right, highlighting the ship’s features beautifully.
Typical ANDROS Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Deep dive (36m) - monitor air consumption closely. Advanced certification recommended.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
ANDROS Wreck History
Year Sunk
1941
Vessel Type
hospital ship
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
2,828 GRT
Originally built in 1894 as the passenger steamer SS THYRA, the vessel later renamed ANDROS had a long and varied career. At the outbreak of World War II, she was owned by the Hellenic Mediterranean Lines and was soon requisitioned by the Hellenic Navy. Repurposed for a humanitarian role, she was converted into a hospital ship, tasked with the noble and dangerous duty of caring for the wounded during wartime.
Her service came to a tragic end on April 23, 1941, during the chaos of the German invasion of Greece. While in the waters near the Sporades islands, the ANDROS was attacked by German Stuka dive bombers. Despite her status as a hospital ship, she was bombed and sunk, resulting in casualties among the crew and the wounded she was carrying. Her sinking is a solemn reminder of the brutal realities of total war, where even sanctuaries of healing were not safe from attack.
Today, the ANDROS rests at a depth of 36 meters within the protected waters of the Alonissos Marine Park. This is a deep dive suitable for experienced divers with appropriate certification. The wreck is a poignant and historically significant site. Its location within a marine park means the visibility is often excellent, and the ship has become a thriving artificial reef, attracting a rich diversity of marine life. Divers exploring the ANDROS are urged to do so with the utmost respect, honoring its final role as a hospital ship and its status as a war grave.
Nearest Dive Centres to ANDROS
Dive shops near ANDROS
AquaTrail Adventures
KORINTHOS DIVE CENTRE
Scubabluedream
Reviews for ANDROS
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for ANDROS
ANDROS Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for ANDROS, sourced from Copernicus Marine satellite data
August Averages
Sea Temperature
27.17°C
81°F
Current Speed
5.1 cm/s
Direction: W (258.7°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.129 mg/m³
Clear water
Salinity
34.82 PSU
Data sources: Copernicus Marine Service (EU)
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