Messerschmitt Bf 109 - Crete
Dropping onto the Messerschmitt Bf 109 off Crete, you immediately feel the history. This isn't some pristine museum piece; it's a war relic, broken and folded into itself on the seabed. We love how the wings are still largely intact, despite the impact, and you can clearly make out the engine block, twisted but defiant. The site itself isn’t massive, making it perfect for a relaxed swim-around where you can really soak in the details. Look for the small groupers that have made a home under the fuselage, and we’ve often spotted scorpionfish camouflaged against the corroded metal. Our favourite spot has to be peering into what’s left of the cockpit. It sparks the imagination, seeing the controls frozen in time. The visibility here can be excellent on a good day, giving you that brilliant Mediterranean blue backdrop for your photos. It’s a relatively shallow wreck, making it accessible for open water divers, though navigating the slightly tricky entry and exit often requires a bit more confidence. We’d suggest going early in the morning to beat any potential boat traffic and to catch the light hitting the wreck just right. It really highlights the metallic sheen of the fuselage.
- Location
- Crete, Greece, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 35.355038, 25.382023
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: Agioi Pantes Lasithiou
Best Time to Dive in Crete
The warmest water temperatures in Crete occur in August, averaging 25.1°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 16.4°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 17.3°C
- February: 16.4°C
- March: 16.4°C
- April: 17.0°C
- May: 19.2°C
- June: 22.3°C
- July: 24.1°C
- August: 25.1°C
- September: 24.6°C
- October: 22.9°C
- November: 20.9°C
- December: 18.9°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Crete
- 5B-CCF - 18m (wreck)
- ABED AL SALEM - 5m (wreck)
- ADAMAS - 2m (wreck)
- ADRIAS - 25m (wreck)
- Aegean Divers
- Afalatosi
- Agios Pavlos Cliff and Caves (cave)
- Agios Pavlos Gold Mine
- Agios Pavlos Wall (wall)
- Akrotiri reef (reef)
- Alonaki
- Ammoudi Reef (reef)
- Ammoudi Reef Wreck (wreck)
- Ammoudi Wall (wall)
- Arado 196 A (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Messerschmitt Bf 109
Marine Life in Crete
Home to 11 recorded species including 5 reef fish, 1 other, 1 sea urchins, 1 worms, 1 seagrass & algae, 1 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- Red lionfish (Pterois miles) - Reef Fish
- Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema setosum) - Sea Urchins
- Silver-cheeked Toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus) - Reef Fish
- Studded Pufferfish (Torquigener flavimaculosus) - Reef Fish
- Bearded Fireworm (Hermodice carunculata) - Worms
- Species code: Hs (Halophila stipulacea) - Seagrass & Algae
- Elliptical File-Shell (Limatula subauriculata) - Clams & Mussels
- Redcoat (Sargocentron rubrum) - Reef Fish
- gribble (Limnoria lignorum) - Crabs & Lobsters
Recommended Packing List for Messerschmitt Bf 109
Based on average water temperature of 20.4°C, currents 5 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