HMS Ocean - Alonissos Marine Park

The SS City of Columbus wreck isn't just another pile of submerged metal, it's a raw piece of New England maritime history, frozen in time. What we love about this site is the sheer scale of the old passenger steamer. She went down hard in 1884, and the way she's laid out, broken but still largely intact, tells a dramatic story. When you drop down, you're not just looking at a wreck, you're swimming through the skeleton of an era. The bow section is still impressive, and you can imagine the grand salon where passengers once dined. We’ve had some cracking dives here, navigating the scattered debris field where schools of Atlantic cod will often eye you up. Keep an eye out for the bolder winter skates resting in the silty hollows. The currents can get frisky, especially around tide changes, so we always suggest timing your dive for slack water. Visibility shifts wildly, from a murky ten feet to a surprisingly clear forty, but even on a darker day, the wreck's outline is powerful, looming out of the gloom. It’s a site that rewards multiple visits, each time revealing another secret, another corner to explore.

Location
Alonissos Marine Park, Greece, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
40.016544, 26.299791
Type
wreck

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 HMS Ocean

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 HMS Ocean

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