Wreck of HMHS Dover Castle - Tabarka
The Príncipe de Asturias is a big wreck, and we mean *big*. It’s a proper expedition dive, not one for a quick splash. When you drop down, the sheer scale of it hits you; it's less a single structure and more an entire underwater landscape now, draped in a living tapestry of sponges and corals. You’ll find Atlantic purple sea urchins tucked into crevices and schools of porkfish swirling around the rusted metalwork. We’ve spent hours exploring the various sections, particularly the stern where the propellers are still visible, if heavily encrusted. The ambient light filtering through the superstructure creates an almost cathedral-like atmosphere, especially on a sunny day. Be ready for some current here; it can pick up, so good buoyancy is key. This is a dive for those who appreciate history and the slow reclamation of man-made objects by the ocean.
- Location
- Tabarka, Tunisia, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 37.750000, 7.750000
- Type
- wreck
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)
- HELENE CLIPPER - 60m (wreck)
- HERMES - 1m (wreck)
- HMS AVENGER - 60m (wreck)
- HMS Bedouin (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Wreck of HMHS Dover Castle
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 Wreck of HMHS Dover Castle
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