HELENE CLIPPER - Tabarka
The Helene Clipper wreck sits deep off Tabarka, a proper technical dive at 60 metres. We love it because it’s a big beast, an old motor vessel that went down in a gale in '75. Dropping onto the deck, you really feel the scale, the way it lists hard to starboard, almost resting on its side. It’s dark down there, the Mediterranean deep blue, and your lights pick out huge schools of barracuda, shimmering like chrome, weaving through the rigging. For us, the real magic happens exploring the superstructure. The bow is particularly striking, still pointing defiantly into the current. You can push into the cargo holds, if you’re comfortable with overhead environments, finding remnants of its last voyage now encrusted with sponges. Groupers have made it their home, some of them massive, lurking in the shadows. We’d suggest saving this dive for calm days; the deep can be unforgiving with surface chop. It’s a dive for those comfortable with depth, with a bit of experience under their belt, but it rewards you with a tangible piece of history reclaimed by the sea.
- Location
- Tabarka, Tunisia, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 37.083332, 10.366667
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 60m
Marine Protected Area: Lagune de Ghar El Melh et delta de la medjerda
Best Time to Dive in Tabarka
The warmest water temperatures in Tabarka occur in January, averaging 16.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 16.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 16.7°C (air: 14.4°C)
- February: 16.7°C (air: 14.5°C)
- March: 16.7°C (air: 14.8°C)
- April: 16.7°C (air: 16.1°C)
- May: 16.7°C (air: 18.8°C)
- June: 16.7°C (air: 22.7°C)
- July: 16.7°C (air: 26.0°C)
- August: 16.7°C (air: 26.7°C)
- September: 16.7°C (air: 25.3°C)
- October: 16.7°C (air: 22.6°C)
- November: 16.7°C (air: 19.2°C)
- December: 16.7°C (air: 16.1°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Tabarka
- ANNA CATERINA - 60m (wreck)
- BENIVENTO - 0m (wreck)
- BESSY G. - 1m (wreck)
- BLOSSOM (STERN SECTION) - 8m (wreck)
- BRANDARIS - 3m (wreck)
- CARMELO MARULLO II - 50m (wreck)
- CHRISTIAN MICHELSEN - 16m (wreck)
- CONGELSA - 5m (wreck)
- Dive-X Active Sport - Cala Gadir
- Dive-X Active Sport - Cala Tramontana
- EMPIRE SONG (POSSIBLY) - 50m (wreck)
- HERMES - 1m (wreck)
- HMS AVENGER - 60m (wreck)
- HMS Bedouin (reef)
- HMS Cairo (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to HELENE CLIPPER
Marine Life in Tabarka
Home to 162 recorded species including 104 reef fish, 20 sharks & rays, 7 octopus & squid, 6 other, 5 whales & dolphins, 4 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- hake (Merluccius merluccius) - Reef Fish
- Pollock (Trachurus trachurus) - Reef Fish
- Mullet (Mullus barbatus) - Reef Fish
- european squid (Loligo vulgaris) - Octopus & Squid
- Pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) - Reef Fish
- Bogue (Boops boops) - Reef Fish
- Annular Seabream (Diplodus annularis) - Reef Fish
- pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) - Reef Fish
- Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) - Octopus & Squid
- common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) - Octopus & Squid
- red mullet (Mullus surmuletus) - Reef Fish
- Split (Scomber scombrus) - Reef Fish
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- Ribbonfish (Lepidopus caudatus) - Reef Fish
- Brown Comber (Serranus hepatus) - Reef Fish
- dory (Zeus faber) - Reef Fish
- Snapper (Sparus aurata) - Reef Fish
- Garrupa (Serranus cabrilla) - Reef Fish
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
Recommended Packing List for HELENE CLIPPER
Based on average water temperature of 16.7°C.
- Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 17°C water
- Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories