DERNA
Why dive here
With 77+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dolphins, ocean sunfish (mola mola), octopuses and sea turtles - DERNA offers some of Medes Islands's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 14-24°C, warmest July, August, September.
The Derna, an Italian steamship requisitioned during the war, went down in 1943 off the Medes Islands. She rests upright, mostly intact, with her bow pointing out to sea, and for a wreck of her age and location, she’s surprisingly well-preserved. Dropping down, you’ll find her sitting in around 33 metres, her superstructure rising a few metres off the seabed. Schools of barracuda often circle the mast, and inside the cargo holds, where the light shafts down, you can spot conger eels poking from crevices. We’d suggest this dive for those comfortable with deeper profiles and wreck penetration, as there are plenty of interesting sections to explore if you have the right training.
Typical DERNA Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Deep dive (33m) - monitor air consumption closely. Advanced 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.
Nearest Dive Centres to DERNA
Dive shops near DERNA
Prosub
Aventure plongée
OCTOPUS Ecole et club de plongée
Bulles Plongée
Plongée Passion
École de Plongée Sétoise
Reviews for DERNA
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for DERNA
DERNA Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for DERNA, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (43.2, 5.22) (37km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
20°C
69°F · Range: 17.4–22.8°C
Current Speed
9.85 cm/s
Direction: SW (246°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.182 mg/m³
Clear water
Salinity
38.21 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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