Zenobia wreck, Larnaca: which package, when and how to dive or snorkel it
A ferry wreck at 42 m, and you do not always need a diving licence to see it
- Sank
- 7 June 1980, on her first voyage
- Depth
- About 42 m at the deepest
- Length
- 172–174 m (sources differ)
A wreck 42 m down sounds like a trip for certified divers only, and it is easier than that. The Zenobia, a Swedish ferry that sank off Larnaca in 1980, can be visited from the surface on a snorkel cruise, from a few metres down on a beginner dive, or at full depth with a certificate. All of it needs a booking made in advance, and the package you pick decides almost everything else, from the hours on the water to the depth you reach. The sections below sort the packages by the licence each one asks for, then by season and by what you see.
Which ticket for the Zenobia: snorkel, beginner or certified
The booking page for the wreck lists five kinds of outing, from a boat trip with a snorkelling stop to a night dive. Prices appear in US dollars and move with the package, which is why none is quoted here. The listing you choose is the real price, so read what the equipment, the instructor and the transfer cover before you pay, because two packages with the same name do not always include the same things.
Depth is the line that divides them. A beginner dive stays within 5 to 9 m, while the wreck lies on its side with the upper edge at about 18 m and the lowest parts near 42 m. One operator asks for an advanced open water certificate before the deeper dive, and others may ask for different qualifications, so the listing is the rule for that day. Take the snorkel cruise if you hold no licence and want the least effort, the beginner dive if you want to be underwater, and a certified dive only if you already hold the card.
On your own
- Beginners
- 5 to 9 m, no licence
- Deepest
- about 42 m
- Price
- depends on the package
With a guide
- transport arranged
- a guide on site
- costs more than going alone
When to go and how to reach the wreck
The season runs from March to November, and June to October is the best stretch. Boats leave from Larnaca Marina and the wreck lies 1.4 km off the coast, so the ride out is short, though anyone who dislikes boats should weigh a long day on the water before booking it. Trips are cancelled when the sea turns rough. That is the main reason to keep a spare day in the plan.
Book ahead rather than turning up at the marina. Some operators allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before, which makes an early booking cheap to undo. Where that option exists it is the one to prefer. A dive that depends on weather needs a second date.
What you see, in order
The Zenobia was a Swedish roll-on roll-off ferry, between 172 and 174 m long depending on the source. She sank on 7 June 1980 on her first voyage with 108 trucks aboard, and nobody died. PADI describes four decks of trucks, which it matches to four levels of diving experience, and divers move from the bridge and the upper deck to the crane as the dive goes on.
Entering the hull takes a certificate, and that is where the depth matters. The upper edge sits at about 18 m, within reach of divers who have not trained for the deepest part, while the lower side goes down to about 42 m. Sources give the depth anywhere from 16 to 43 m. Treat the figures as a range. The wreck is large, which means one outing shows only a share of it.
When you have no licence or little time
Without a licence, or with only a morning free, and especially in a month when the sea is calm, the snorkel cruise is the answer, and a calm sea decides it. Two other wrecks are named in dive guides: the fishing boat Alexandria, sunk in 2006 and 500 m from the Zenobia, and HMS Cricket at about 33 m. Those belong to a longer dive plan. Anything shorter than a day is better spent on the water above the wreck than on a plan that does not fit.
- Skip the outing on a rough day, since operators cancel for weather.
- Leave the night dive to those on an SSI course.
- Pick the shortest package that fits the day, since a rushed dive is a poor one.
Where to next
Larnaca in 2 days
→The first day for the promenade, fort and church, the second for the lake and the mosque, a third for a day trip
Cyprus
→An island with the euro, left-hand traffic and two views of the same map, entered through Larnaca
How well does Larnaca suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
Nomadinho scores out of 100, the same ones behind “Where to go”.
If you like Larnaca
Three places with the closest scores, from any country.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Do you need a licence to dive the Zenobia?
Not for every package. A snorkel cruise and a beginner dive need none, while the longer dives for certified divers require a certificate, and the listing states exactly what it asks for.
How deep is the Zenobia?
The deepest part is about 42 m, and the upper edge lies at about 18 m. Sources quote a range of 16 to 43 m, so the briefing on the day is the final word. The upper edge is the part within reach of most divers.
Can you see the Zenobia without diving?
Yes. A snorkel cruise stops above the wreck so you can swim over it. The wreck lies 1.4 km off the Larnaca coast, so it is a boat trip in any case, and trips run from March to November.
Ready for Larnaca?
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