Scuba Diving
If you are intrigued by the underwater world, you might want to consider scuba diving. Several diving schools around the island offer different courses. You will need a four to five-day crash course to obtain your first diploma. Some centres offer one-day diving trips. For your own safety, the rules and regulations must be strictly observed.
For more information please contact:
The Cyprus Federation of Underwater Activities (C.F.U.A.) Tel: 22 75 46 47
Diving equipment is available for sale or rent in several centres.
Submarine Experience
If you are not keen on scuba diving and yet fascinated by the deep blue, Cyprus offers you an alternative. Indeed, Cyprus is the only place in the Eastern Mediterranean where you can board a submarine and venture down to the seabed for a glimpse of marine life in its natural environment. The submarine experience also offers a close-up of the Zenobia shipwreck. Like the Titanic, the Zenobia sank on her maiden voyage, and currently ranks as one of the best 10 shipwreck dives in the world. Zenobia is now home to many species of fish, including large communities of amberjack, grouper and barracuda… truly a diver's paradise.
The submarine remains above the Zenobia, while passengers are brought to and from the vessel by a shuttle boat from Larnaka Marina.
For more information call 24 65 69 49.
Best diving sites
Ammochostos
Agioi Anargyroi Diving Site at Cape Greko. Open water (OW) qualification required. Access to the water is from a cave at the bottom of a flight of steps. Beautiful scenery, with the small white-washed chapel perched over the sea matched by the fascinating marine environment underwater. The depth ranges from 10 metres to 25 metres, with the sudden drop allowing divers to descend fairly quickly. Visibility is usually about 30 to 40 metres. There is a variety of small fish. The site is also ideal for night dives to admire the many octopuses.
Green Bay Diving Site. Open water (OW) qualification required. Access to the water is by land. There are fragments of ancient amphorae on the seabed 12 metres underwater to be explored. There is also a variety of fish and abundant opportunities for photography. The depth is 12 metres and visibility is 45 metres.
The Canyon Diving Site at Cape Greko. Advanced open water (AOW) qualification required. Situated at the south side of Cape Greko just under the cliffs, access is from the shore. The dive has interesting rock formations and offers the opportunity to see stingrays and other fish. The water is crystal clear, with average visibility of 45 metres. The average depth is 15 metres.
The Caves Diving Site at Cape Greko . Open water (OW) qualification required. This is one of the most popular dives in the area with blowholes, tunnels and overhangs. The site is situated some 10 minutes from Protaras on Cape Greko . Access is from the shore and the depth is 12 metres.
Larnaka
HMS Cricket Diving Site. Open water (OW) qualification required. Access is by boat. Situated off Larnaka, this dive is an opportunity to explore an old British battleship that rests upside down on the seabed at 27 metres. The World War Two gunboat survived the war. It was then anchored in Larnaka Bay and used as target practice by the RAF but sank in 1947 due to bad weather. There is a sandy dip under the wreck. Divers can swim inside the hull through escape hatches and underneath the wreck. The vessel is also home to groupers and other fish. Visibility is some 25 metres. The maximum depth is 33 metres. |
Helicopter Wreck Diving Site. Open water qualification (OW) required. Access is by boat some 15 minutes offshore. Situated off Larnaka, this dive is an opportunity to dive to a British Army Helicopter that sank to 16 metres below sea level in 1996. The area is frequented by schools of fish and octopus. Average visibility is 25 metres and the average depth 16 metres.
The Zenobia Wreck Diving Site. Advanced open water (AOW) qualification required. Access is by boat. Just 1.4km off the coast of Larnaka , this is rated one of the 10 best wreck dives in the world. The Zenobia, a Swedish RO-RO 172-metre ferry
carrying 108 articulated Lorries, sank in 1980. It lies on its port side on a flat bed of sand and rocks. Both the ferry and its cargo are still intact and fascinating to explore. The wreck is also home to schools of fish, including grouper, barracuda and tuna. The dive starts at 17 metres and bottoms at 43 metres. Visibility is up to 50 metres and water temperatures a comfortable 16° to 28°C.
Lemesos
Akrotiri Fish Reserve Diving Site. Open water (OW) qualification required. Access is by boat. This fish reserve near Akrotiri offers a fascinating opportunity to interact with local marine life. At some 9 metres, this dive is suitable for all divers who can hand feed groupers, moray eels, bream and bass and admire the octopus. Visibility is some 30 metres.
Pharses ll Wreck Diving Site. Advanced open water qualification (AOW) required. Access is by boat. The Pharses ll is an open deck twin-hatched cargo ship that went down not far from Lemesos harbour during a storm in 1980. It lies practically intact some 21 metres underwater on its starboard side. The 1,000 tonne ship can be entered, but only under strict supervision. This dive also provides ample opportunity to admire marine life.
The Three Stars Wreck Diving Site. Open water (OW) qualification required. This wreck, which caught fire and ran aground in 1972, is partly submerged in some 7 metres of water in the Akrotiri area. A very interesting exploratory wreck dive for all levels, the vessel, is safe to enter.
Pafos
Amphitheatre Diving Site. Open water (OW) qualification required. Access is from the shore just past the headland at Coral Bay , a short walk down the rocks. This is a particularly popular dive, ranging from 4 metres to some 12 metres. It takes its name from the natural formation resembling an amphitheatre that was cut out of the rock by sea currents. Besides the magnificent rock formations, there is an abundance of marine life to admire, including groupers, eels and cuttlefish.
Amphorae Caves Diving Site. Open water (OW) qualification required. There are a number of caves, including one with an amphorae encrusted roof, and gullies to explore at a depth of five to 12 metres.
Devils Head Diving Site. Open water (OW) qualification required. Access is by boat. Located off the northwest coast of Pafos in the Akamas area, this dive combines caves and interconnecting tunnels at a depth of some 11 metres. The really lucky divers may spot green and leatherback turtles during the turtle season. There is plenty of marine life to admire around the rock formation.
The Vera K Wreck Diving Site. Open water qualification (OW) required. Access is by boat some 25 minutes from Pafos harbour. This Lebanese freighter ran aground in shallow water in 1972 and was initially used as target practice by the army. But it was later declared a hazard to other ships and blown up in 1974. It now rests in a crater created by the explosion, 11 metres underwater. Very close are two large archways and narrow tunnels suitable for experienced divers. There is also plenty of marine life to observe.
Wreck of the White Star Diving Site. Open water (OW) qualification required. This former Russian fishing vessel sank at sea, close to Pafos harbour in 2006 as she was being towed to Lemesos to be completely scrapped. She now lies on a rocky
bottom, 14 to 18 metres underwater and is home to groupers, breams and other fish.
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