ARMATAN III
Protected Area
Area marina protetta Secche della Meloria
Why dive here
With 70+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, humpback whales, mobula rays (devil rays) and oceanic whitetip sharks - ARMATAN III offers some of Portofino & Liguria's richest wreck diving.
The Armatan III sits in a modest 22 metres, an old sailing vessel, not a grand freighter, but there’s a quiet beauty to it. We particularly love the bow, often draped in a shimmering curtain of damselfish, their scales catching the light. It's an easy dive, perfect for a relaxed afternoon, and the wreck itself, while not huge, offers enough nooks and crannies to keep you poking around for a good while. Look closely at the mast, now thickly encrusted, where we’ve often spotted small scorpionfish blending in perfectly. What makes the Armatan III special, for us, isn’t its size, but how it’s become part of the seabed. The wooden hull has long since given way in places, creating swim-throughs where you can glide past walls of jewel anemones. We always take our time here, circling the main structure, watching for moray eels tucked into the darker sections. It’s a gentle introduction to wreck diving in Liguria, suitable for anyone comfortable at this depth, and you’ll often have it mostly to yourselves, especially on a weekday. The visibility here can be variable, so aim for a calm morning after a few days of settled weather; it really makes a difference.
Typical ARMATAN III Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Depth of 22m - Advanced Open Water certification recommended.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
ARMATAN III Wreck History
Year Sunk
1975
Vessel Type
sailing vessel
Cause
fire
The Armatan III was a private sailing vessel whose final voyage took a disastrous turn on September 29, 1975. While on passage from Porto Santo Stefano to Santa Margherita, a fire broke out on board, thought to have been sparked by an electrical fault. The incident occurred just four miles off Leghorn (Livorno) harbour. While the crew of four were rescued from the inferno, their vessel could not be saved and was consumed by the flames before sinking beneath the waves.
Today, the remains of the Armatan III lie at a depth of 22 metres, making it a very accessible dive for Advanced Open Water divers exploring the Ligurian coast. The fire would have destroyed much of the wooden structure, but what is left of the hull and keel provides the foundation for a small but interesting artificial reef. Divers can explore the wreckage, now home to local marine life, and contemplate the dramatic event that sent this pleasure craft to its final resting place.
Nearest Dive Centres to ARMATAN III
Dive shops near ARMATAN III
Accademia Blu Diving Center
BLUE MIND ASD
Caccia e Pesca
DIVING DEGLI ETRUSCHI
7 Perle ASD
Foto Shark
Reviews for ARMATAN III
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for ARMATAN III
ARMATAN III Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for ARMATAN III, sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Open-Meteo grid (44.31, 9.19) (0km away)
August Averages
Air Temperature
25.58°C
78°F
Wind Speed
3.87 m/s
7.5 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1013.1 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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