EMPIRE DACE - Zakynthos & Ionian Islands
The Empire Dace, a former ferry requisitioned by the Royal Navy, met its end in 1944 after hitting a mine. Today, she lies remarkably shallow, barely a metre deep in parts, making her a unique experience for snorkelers and very shallow freedivers. What’s left of the vessel is scattered, but you can clearly make out sections of the hull and superstructure. Schools of juvenile fish dart through the metalwork, and we often spot blennies and gobies nestled in the crevices. It’s not a deep dive, obviously, but it’s a fascinating piece of history right below the surface, excellent for those looking for something different away from the usual reef dives.
- Location
- Zakynthos & Ionian Islands, Greece, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 38.332333, 21.416166
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 1m
Marine Protected Area: Messolonghi lagoons
Nearby Dive Sites in Zakynthos & Ionian Islands
- AGHIOS ANDREAS - 5m (wreck)
- Agni Reef (reef)
- AIKATERINI - 3m (wreck)
- Alexanders Cave (cave)
- ALUX (PROBABLY) - 2m (wreck)
- Anker
- Antipaxoi Beach
- Arch of the temple - 10-25m (cave)
- Aris Place
- AYIA ZONI - 1m (wreck)
- Barracuda Reef (reef)
- Big Moray reef (reef)
- Blue Pot
- Bournias
- Butterfly Cave (cave)
Nearest Dive Centres to EMPIRE DACE
Marine Life in Zakynthos & Ionian Islands
Home to 24 recorded species including 12 reef fish, 4 whales & dolphins, 2 crabs & lobsters, 2 clams & mussels, 2 seagrass & algae, 1 other.
Notable Species
- Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
- Red lionfish (Pterois miles) - Reef Fish
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) - Reef Fish
- Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo) - Reef Fish
- Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Garrupa (Serranus cabrilla) - Reef Fish
- Silver-cheeked Toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
- Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Salema (Sarpa salpa) - Reef Fish
- Native oyster (Ostrea edulis) - Clams & Mussels
- Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) - Seagrass & Algae
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) - Reef Fish
- Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Species code: Hs (Halophila stipulacea) - Seagrass & Algae
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins