BEST DIVE SITES IN CYPRUS

  • Amphorae Caves – Off Paphos are numerous caves, one of which is encrusted with amphorae (ancient clay storage jars.) This and adjacent gullies are well worth exploring at depths to 12 metres/40 feet.
  • The Wreck of the Zenobia – A former Swedish roll-on, roll-off (RO-RO) ferry, the Zenobia sank in July 1980. Now lying on her port side, the wreck rests at depths from 16-43 metres/52-141 feet. Nearly the entire vessel’s 178-metre/584-foot length is colonized by local marine life and the cavernous hold provides an interesting and unusual penetration dive for those with suitable training. Many of the more than 100 trucks on board were chained to the cargo deck for the journey and many now sit suspended from the wall like a bizarre 3-D picture.
  • The Canyon, Cape Greko – Situated at the south side of Cape Greko just under the cliffs, and accessible from the shore, this site features interesting rock formations, stingrays and other fish.
  • Copper Wreck – This copper-hulled wreck lies off the Akrotiri Peninsula in less than 10 metres/33 feet of water. The remains are well broken up but keep your eyes open for brass fasteners and fragments of the hull.
  • Diana – The 15-metre/50-foot long wreck of the Diana sits upright in 21 metres/65 feet of water. She attracts schools of fish and is a popular spot for underwater photographers.
  • The Chapel – This is a fun shore dive east of Ayia Napa with depths up to 30 metres/100 feet possible. Sponges and scorpionfish are found along the wall and it’s a great spot for octopus on a night dive. Watch out for old amphorae too.
BEST DIVE SITES IN CYPRUS

What to See in Cyprus

Indigenous life flourishes among the rocky shorelines and outcrops around Cyprus. This warm corner of the Mediterranean offers divers an exciting diversion from the usually cold temperatures and deep, dark waters. Plenty of fish, crustaceans, octopus and eels can be found on the reefs, and further out, you can encounter dolphins. Green and loggerhead turtles are regular visitors, especially in breeding season. And a reserve near Akrotiri brings divers face-to-face with groupers, moray eels, bream and bass. Plus, the astounding collection of sponges and soft and hard corals, paired with their ever present entourage of fish, is idyllic in the shimmering blue light.