Othoni Wreck - Zakynthos & Ionian Islands
The Othoni Wreck, lying off Zakynthos, is one of those sites that really sticks with you. It’s not a deep dive, sitting around 18-22 metres, making it accessible for Advanced Open Water divers looking for a bit more than a reef swim. What we love about the Othoni is the way the wreck itself has become a living reef. You descend onto this relatively intact cargo ship, split into two main sections, and immediately you’re surrounded by clouds of damselfish darting in and out of the holds. Our favourite part is exploring the bridge area, where the light filters through the portholes creating these ethereal shafts. Look closely for scorpionfish camouflaged on the deck plating and moray eels peeking from beneath twisted metal. The bow section has some great swim-throughs, but always check your buoyancy – silt can kick up easily. It’s a great spot for photographers, especially when the sun is high and the Mediterranean blue really pops against the rusty structure. We’d suggest going early in the morning to avoid any boat traffic and to get the best light penetration.
- Location
- Zakynthos & Ionian Islands, Greece, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 39.862186, 19.400139
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: DIAPONTIA NISIA (OTHONOI, EREIKOUSA, MATHRAKI KAI VRACHONISIDES)
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 Othoni Wreck
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