Zenobia Wreck

Zenobia was a Swedish ferry launched in 1979. It was capsized during its maiden voyage on the 7^th of June 1980, and sank in the coastal zone of the city of Larnaka – Cyprus. Zenobia wreck is considered the best dive in Cyprus and one of the top 10 wreck dives worldwide. Avid divers visit Cyprus from all over the world to explore this captivating diving spot. Zenobia has fans that visit Cyprus repeatedly each year, since exploring all the compartments of this ship requires multiple visits. The Zenobia wreck (172 length) was sunk on its port side at 42 meters (138 ft) while the shallowest point is at 18m. In good weather conditions, the visibility can reach 30m. The current speed at this site is relatively low all year around which makes Zenobia a suitable dive destination for almost all qualified divers. Zenobia wreck is an ideal site for advanced divers or for experienced tech divers that are able to conduct wreck penetration dives. One of the most fascinating facts is that the cargo of the ship (with lorries and trucks) is still onboard for the divers to visit.

The marine life on the Zenobia wreck is abundant and diverse. Since the area surrounding the wreck has been designated as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) for many years, no fishing activities are allowed within the vicinity of 3 miles. Therefore, depending on the season, the divers have a chance to encounter large dusky groupers, schools of greater barracudas, moray eels, cardinals, rainbow wrasses, lionfish, nudibranchs, sea stars, and a variety of schooling fish like damselfish and sparids. Important and fascinating additions are large turtles that patrol the wreck as well as the occasional dolphins. Last but not least, the Zenobia wreck is home for a large number of coral species as well as sponges, bivalves, bryozoans and many crustaceans.

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Species list of most common marine life encountered at Zenobia wreck:

Mediterranean rainbow wrasse / Coris julis

Ornate wrasse / Thalassoma pavo

Squirrefish / Sargocentron rubrum

Damselfish / Chromis chromis

Blue-spotted cornetfish / Fistularia commersonii

Yellowspotted pufferfish / Torquigener flavimaculosus

Grey triggerfish / Balistes capriscus

Mediterranean parrot-fish / Sparisoma cretense

Red Sea goatfish / Parupeneus forsskali

Dusky spinefoot / Siganus luridus

Marbled spinefoot / Siganus rivulatus

Two – banded Sea bream / Diplodus vulgaris

Comber / Serranus cabrilla

Striped sea bream / Lithognathus mormyrus

White sea bream / Diplodus sargus

Dusky grouper / Epinephelus marginatus

Goldblotch grouper / Epinephelus costae

Cardinalfish / Apogon imberbis

Red scorpionfish / Scorpaena spp.

Saddled seabream / Oblada melanura

Painted comberfish / Serranus scriba

Moray eel / Muraena helena

Lionfish / Pterois miles

Common octopus / Octopus vulgaris

European barracuda / Sphyraena sphyraena

Debrio / Trachinotus ovatus

Blue runner / Caranx crysos

Purple sea urchin / Paracentrotus lividus

Long-spined urchin / Diadema setosum

Greater amberjack / Seriola dumerili

Lessepsian Sea-cucumber / Synaptula reciprocans

Dark stinging sponge /Sarcotragus foetidus

Chondrosia sponge/ Chondrosia reniformis

Pearl oyster /Pinctada imbricata radiata

Thorny oyster / Spondylus gaederopus

Cave star coral / Madracis pharensis

Hidden cup coral / Phyllangia muchezii

Average Sea Surface Temperature (°C) per month