Zenobia
The Swedish RO RO Ferry ZENOBIA sank on 7th June 1980 early morning. Nobody came to harm, no lifes lost. She was on her voyage from Piraeus to Syria when she experienced problems with her ballast computer and tilted to her port side. Some 108 lorries are still her quiet cargo. The Zenobia is 172 Metres long and 23 Metres wide and a draught of 13 Metres. Touch down is on her star port side in 17 Metres depth. Her port side is down in 42 Metres depth and she has 10 000 BRT. The famous wreck Zenobia is now since more than 10 years private property and they charge a boat fee and a wreck visiting fee but this fee includes as well lunch after the two dives. We always conduct 2 dives when diving at the Zenobia as one needs at least 2 dives in order to see the wreck, this great wreck in full. And in order to understand where is what on this wreck one needs at least 4 dives, maybe even more on reason of her size. Between the dives we do a Surface Interval of at least 1:30 hrs, maybe even longer, depending on the first dive. Each dive at this wreck leaves you with an unforgettable impression. A MUST for every diver when visiting Cyprus.
- the tilt of the Wreck
BRT: 10000
Length: 172 Meter
Width: 23.4 Meter
Draught: 13 Meter
HMS Cricket
The HMS Cricket is a british Navy Ship from WWII and was a Canon Boat of the Insect Class. 1942 she run onto a mine at ?Mersa Matruh? in Egypt. The top of this boat was dismantled (Bridge, Canons etc) and used as spare parts. The hull of the Ship was towed to Cyprus and was used by the Royal Air Force for Target Practice for a long time. The Cricket lays upside down in 30 to 35 Metres depth. Divers with good buoyancy will be able to pentrate the wreck, although not very far. But careful there are many sharp edges and the light sediment on the bottom will deteriorate visibility quickly.
Helicopter
After the dive on the HMS Cricket we are relocating with the boat in the Direction of Dhekelia. Near the power station lays a Barge in 17 Metres depth, filled with rocks. Triton Shells are very common here and some Moray Eels are living in that Barge.
Approximately 30 Metres in the direction of the Power Station one can see a wreck of a Helicopter from the Army Air Corps in Dhekelia and one can see a Brass Shield on it with the names of the divers who brought it/sank it there. This Helicopter is like a Magnet for many divers, where else can one sit in a Helicopter and pose for free. A perfect combination. With guaranty one will see Violet Aeolids, Moray Eels, Sea Slugs and and sometimes big Sting Rays. A perfect place for U/W Photography.
This dive site is used as well from the Soldiers at the SBA Dhekelia. And even a cute little Penguin made of stone is down there, waiting to be visitet and on the metall framework I could personally observe some 35 Violet Aeolids on one dive. A very nice dive site.
