Diving the Zenobia Wreck — One of the World’s Top 10 Wrecks. Certification, Costs

The MV Zenobia was a Swedish ro-ro (roll-on roll-off) ferry that sank on June 7, 1980, on its maiden voyage from Limassol to Tartus in Syria. It lies on the seabed 1.5 km from the port of Larnaca, at a depth of 16–42 meters. On board rest 104 trucks and a variety of cargo — no one lost their life.

Today, the Zenobia is classified by Scuba Diving Magazine, PADI, and Dive Magazine as one of the world’s top 10 wreck dives. Each year, it is visited by thousands of divers from across Europe.

History of the Sinking

Zenobia (IMO 7702008) was a ferry built in Sweden in 1979 for the Swedish company Stena Line. Length: 178 m, cargo capacity: 104 TIR trucks. On its last voyage, it sailed from Ystad (Sweden) via Limassol to Tartus.

In Limassol, the crew discovered a problem with the ballast system — the ferry began to list due to a fault in the pump system. The stabilizing ballast tanks were incorrectly calibrated. The captain and shipowner decided to continue the voyage without visiting a shipyard — a fatal decision.

On June 7, 1980, 1.5 km from the port of Larnaca, the Zenobia listed to port and sank. It took several minutes — enough time to evacuate the entire 104-person crew. No one died. The cargo — 104 trucks with products for export to Syria — remained on board.

The wreck now lies on its port side, at a depth of 16 m (promenade deck) to 42 m (keel).

Why the Zenobia is a "Top 10 Wreck in the World"

Several factors make the Zenobia unique:

Size and Completeness: 178 meters long underwater — one of the largest wreck dives available to recreational divers. All structures are preserved in excellent condition after 44 years.

Depth Accessibility: Part of the wreck lies at 16 m — accessible to Open Water Divers (AOWD is not required). Deeper sections reach 42 m and require Advanced certification.

Cargo: 104 trucks still stand on the cargo deck, many with open trailers and visible contents. This is a unique attraction — a ferry full of trucks underwater.

Marine Life: After 44 years, the Zenobia is an artificial reef. Gorgonians, soft corals, and sponges cover every horizontal surface. Murene colonies in every opening. Schools of golden fish near the promenade. Sea turtles regularly rest near the wreck.

Visibility: Exceptionally high — 20–30 m. Mediterranean "salty" water and a lack of river runoff near Larnaca.

How to Get to the Zenobia

The wreck lies 1.5 km from the port of Larnaca, in the harbor basin. There is no land access — only by boat.

Operators from Larnaca: Several dive bases in Larnaca marina offer daily boat dives:

• Dive In (Larnaca Marina): One of the largest bases, a PADI resort
• Zenobia Dive Center (directly at the wreck): Small, local, dedicated
• Blue Dolphin Divers (Larnaca): Courses + daily dives

Typical prices (season 2024): | Service | Price | |--------|------| | 2 dives (with dive guide) | 55–70 EUR | | 1 dive guide (with equipment rental) | 40–55 EUR | | Guided wreck tour | +10–15 EUR |

Boat travel time to the wreck: 10–15 minutes.

Required Certification and Experience

Minimum requirements for the Zenobia:

• PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent CMAS 1*, SSI Open Water, BSAC Ocean Diver): Access to depths of 16–18 m (promenade deck)
• PADI Advanced Open Water Diver or equivalent: Depths up to 30 m (lower deck)
• PADI Deep Diver Specialty or equivalent: Depths up to 40+ m (keel)

Entering the wreck interior (penetration): Requires a PADI Wreck Diver Specialty course. The wreck has open corridors and cabins — penetration is possible, but requires special training (flashlight, buddy system, guide line).

Recommended experience: Minimum 20–30 dives (counting from OW certification dive). Divers without experience on the Zenobia may feel overwhelmed by the scale of the wreck and the excitement.

What You Will See

Along the promenade deck (16–20 m): Preserved promenade railing, cabin windows (empty or with fish), entrances to internal corridors. Near the mast: gorgonians (fan corals) up to 1 m in size.

Cargo deck (20–30 m): 104 trucks. Standing upright, some with open trailers. Hydraulic equipment, tires, metal cargo visible. Between the trucks: large groupers (up to 60 cm), bream, labridae.

Engine room (30–35 m): Accessible for Advanced divers. Main engines, propeller shaft, ballast pump mechanisms (those that failed).

Keel (42 m): For Deep Diver certification. Here are murenes up to 1.5 m, lobsters, gorgonian gardens.

Schools of fish: Japanese golden fish (Chromis chromis) — thousands of individuals near the promenade. Mackerel, palamida near the open water exit.

Seasonality and Weather

The Zenobia is diveable year-round, but:

• Best visibility: February–April and October–November (no summer algae blooms)
• Warmest water: July–September (26–28°C) — minimal neoprene or shorty required
• Coldest: January–February (17–18°C) — 5mm wetsuit or drysuit required
• Waves: Near Larnaca, the sea is usually calm (sheltered location). With an easterly wind (Greek tramontana), boat trips may be canceled.

Dive Courses Near the Zenobia

If you do not have a certification — many bases in Larnaca offer courses directly at the Zenobia:

PADI Discover Scuba Diving (DSD): For beginners without a certification. 2-hour land training, shallow dive (6 m) under supervision. Not on the Zenobia, but as an introduction. Price: 50–70 EUR.

PADI Open Water Diver Course: 3–4 days, theory + pool + 4 open water dives. Price: 350–450 EUR. After completion — directly to the Zenobia.

PADI Advanced Open Water: 2 days, 5 specialty dives (Deep, Navigation, 3 chosen). Price: 250–320 EUR. After completion: the entire wreck up to 30 m.

Hostels and hotels near Larnaca for divers with equipment drying rooms and equipment rental on CyprusBooker — filter "Larnaka", option "dive base".