ILYA MECHNIKOV - Tyre

The Ilya Mechnikov wreck off Tyre is a powerful dive, more about the story than just the structure. She’s a 130-meter steamship, sunk by a missile in 1973, sitting upright in only 12 meters of water. We love that shallow depth, it gives you so much bottom time to properly explore. The sheer scale of it, even in that visibility, is impressive – you swim over gaping cargo holds, feeling the chill of the shadowed depths within. What makes it special for us is the way the wreck has become a home. Schools of barracuda hang motionless off the bow, and snapper dart in and out of the twisted metal. Look closely, and you'll spot nudibranchs clinging to the superstructure, and octopuses tucked into crevices. Entry can be a bit tricky depending on the swell, so pick a calm day. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history and the quiet resilience of marine life reclaiming something man-made.

Location

Tyre, Lebanon, Red Sea & Middle East

Coordinates

34.929832, 35.859833

Type

wreck

Maximum Depth

12m

Marine Protected Area: Palm Islands