ANDROS - Alonissos Marine Park

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.

Location
Alonissos Marine Park, Greece, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
37.981335, 22.966000
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
36m

Wreck History - ANDROS

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.

Marine Protected Area: KORINTHIAKOS KOLPOS

Best Time to Dive in Alonissos Marine Park

The warmest water temperatures in Alonissos Marine Park occur in August, averaging 27.2°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 13.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 14.5°C
  • February: 13.9°C
  • March: 14.2°C
  • April: 15.4°C
  • May: 18.7°C
  • June: 23.5°C
  • July: 26.5°C
  • August: 27.2°C
  • September: 25.3°C
  • October: 22.8°C
  • November: 19.9°C
  • December: 16.9°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Alonissos Marine Park

Nearest Dive Centres to ANDROS

Marine Life in Alonissos Marine Park

Home to 16 recorded species including 3 whales & dolphins, 3 reef fish, 2 other, 2 hard corals, 2 crabs & lobsters, 1 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for ANDROS

Based on average water temperature of 19.9°C, currents 3 cm/s.

  • Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 20°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