Angelika MS - Sardinia

The Angelika MS, off Sardinia, is one of our favourite Mediterranean wreck dives. It's not a deep dive, sitting comfortably around 18-22 metres, making it accessible for most PADI Advanced Open Water divers. What we love about the Angelika is how much of it remains intact, and the way light plays through the holds on a sunny day. We'd suggest aiming for a morning dive to catch those light beams. You can really spend some time exploring here. The cargo holds are open, revealing the ship's structure, and we’ve often found schools of barracuda hanging around the superstructure, their silver scales flashing. Look closer at the deck and bulkheads; scorpionfish are masters of camouflage here, blending into the rust-coloured metal. It’s a genuinely atmospheric dive, especially when a slight current gives the whole scene a gentle sway, and the sponges on the rails filter the light. Just keep an eye on your buddy; the wreck is big enough to lose track of each other for a moment if you’re not careful.

Location
Sardinia, Italy, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
41.257650, 9.246450
Type
wreck

Wreck History - Angelika MS

Year Sunk
1982
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
storm

The MS Angelika was a Greek cargo ship whose final voyage in October 1982 ended dramatically off the coast of Sardinia. Laden with a cargo of cement, the vessel was navigating the waters near Villasimius when it was caught in a violent "maestrale" wind, a notoriously fierce north-westerly gale that funnels through the Mediterranean.

Seeking shelter from the raging storm, the captain attempted to maneuver the ship into the lee of Isola dei Cavoli. Unfortunately, the powerful waves and wind proved too much, pushing the Angelika onto the submerged rocks of Secca dei Berni. The immense force of the impact broke the ship's back, and it quickly sank, splitting into two distinct sections on the seabed.

Today, the Angelika is one of the most popular wrecks within the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area. Lying at a comfortable recreational depth of around 20 meters, the two halves of the ship offer a fascinating dive. Divers can explore the bow and stern sections, separated by a debris field of twisted metal and the now-solidified bags of its cement cargo. The wreck has become a thriving artificial reef, attracting large schools of barracuda, damselfish, and resident groupers who peer out from within the ship's decaying structure.

Marine Protected Area: Area marina protetta Capotesta - Punta Falcone

Nearby Dive Sites in Sardinia

Nearest Dive Centres to Angelika MS

Marine Life in Sardinia

Home to 86 recorded species including 38 reef fish, 9 seagrass & algae, 8 whales & dolphins, 6 sharks & rays, 5 hard corals, 4 other.

Notable Species