Diving Cyprus

destinations » Europe » Diving Cyprus

29 November 2023
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean. Her most famous dive site is the wreck of the Zenobia, which is currently rated one of the best dive sites in Europe and one of top ten wreck dives in the World.

The northern part of Cyprus is Turkish; the southern is the independent Republic of Cyprus.

When to dive Cyprus

The island of Cyprus is south of Turkey and west of Syria, one of the most southerly islands in the Med. Sea temperatures range from 17 ^oC in February to 28 ^oC in August. The warmest water temperatures are from June (24 ^oC) to November (22 ^oC). The diving season runs from March (although the water's cooler then) until November: one of the longest diving seasons in the Mediterranean. The weather is sunny most of the year.

You will need cash for petrol stations and smaller tavernas, but can get that out on a debit or credit card from any ATM. Foreign credit cards are readily accepted.

If you need to contact the emergency services call 112. Make sure you have diving insurance before you go.

Cyprus Dive Sites • Diving Operators • Accommodation• Further Reading to Cyprus • Your Comments

Protaras

I Dive Cyprus

Award winning PADI elite instructors and NAUI instructor trainer center of Protaras and Ayia Napa. Daily guided dives on the wreck of the Zenobia. Open from April until November

I Dive Cyprus
Protara 29
Shop 4-6 Protaras 5296
Cyprus
Tel: +357 99689961
varoshiotisa@icloud.com
www.idivercyprus.com

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Cyprus Dive Sites

Zenobia • Protaras Dive Sites • Karpaz Peninsula Dive Sites • St George Island Dive Sites

The MS Zenobia was a roll-on roll-off ferry which launched in 1979 and sank in 1980 on her maiden voyage. No lives were lost. She lies on her side, outside Lanarka harbour. The dive starts at 16 m with a maximum depth of 42 m. A large wreck: you will need several dives to do it justice. The Zenobia is rated one of top ten wreck dives in the world.

She is a short boat ride from the shore.

Reviews: (16)

"It was great. Very nice wreck."
DiveGirl, 2023

"The best dive in Cyprus."
Marina, Cyprus, 2023

" Interesting stuff, I was hooked on the Zenobia as soon as I went. I loved diving it and did 10 dives, also made a little video for you guys so you can get an idea what it’s like "
Damien Z, 24 November 2022

"Rightly listed as one of the best wreck dives "
Ian, UK, 10 December 2018

"We did 4 dives, with the excellent "Dive-In" dive centre at Larnaca, Cyprus, on the wreck of the Zenobia. This 178m wreck sank in June 1980, and the passage of time together with local regulations prohibiting fishing around the wreck have led to a surprising amount of marine life. She now rests on the sea bed at 42m, with the top of the wreck around 20m. I'm not normally into wrecks, but this one's pretty special. "
Matthew Moore

"One of the best wrecks in the world and the guys at dive-in know how to show you the best parts. Surprising amount of fish here. "
Steve Saunders, 19 May 2014

"The pristine wreck of a huge ro-ro (roll on, roll off) ferry. Lies in 40 m just outside Larnaca harbour in Cyprus. Lying on its port side, so you hit the wreck at about 15 m, it goes all the way down to 42 m. Fabulous, fabulous dive. Probably the best shipwreck dive in the world in recreational depths. 20 m plus visibility and some great swim-throughs. Vast wreck, simply enormous. Needs at least 10 dives to see anything like all of it."
Jess McAree

"Only completed 2 dives on this fantastic wreck but will be returning next year for a full week's diving on it so that we can explore all the areas available to us! The Zenobia dives are well worth the overall cost of the holiday. "
Damion Smythe-Whitehouse

"A 172 m long cargo ship that sank in 1980 about 1 km off the south south east of Cyprus. An excellent penetration dive. "
Micheal Scott

"Have done more than 200 dives there, never bored of it and always with new things to discover. If it was located in Red sea It would be top ten for sure."
Antonis Kokiantonis

"Fifteen minutes away from Larnaka harbour by yacht: very impressive with great visibility. Will go again and again. "
Menny Farber

"Amazing technical dive. Massive wreck with loads of little holes for penetration. too big for just one dive. "
Andrew Bellamy

"What a wonderful wreck and a great day out, not to be missed. Look forward to diving it again very soon. "
Eric Peters

"What a wreck. It is huge and very impressive with more life in that one spot than the rest of the island put together "
Michelle Pattinson

"Most spectacular, astonishing and relaxing dive. You see so much, you almost forget to check your manometer. As already said terrific divethroughs for almost every diver level (allthough I'd say Padi advanced open water and upwards would be a recommendation) and there's so much to see you need more than 1 or 2 dives to see it all. Have you ever tried feeding the fish? "
Julian Winkler, Netherlands

"This wreck is massive. It needs to be dived more than a couple of times to really appreciate how big this ship is. Great visability and sea life. The Zenobia is by far the best wreck dive I have done to date. "
Peter Knowles, UK

"Superb! Even for a group of UK tekkies! "
Bob Calvert, UK

Protarus. Photo: Dimitris Vetsikas/Pixabay

Reviews: (1)

"Deep site (40 m+).Saw some squid and a ray "
Andrew Bellamy

"Not much life a this one until the end of the dive when we saw a group of big squid. Typical we didn't take the camera when we needed it "
Michelle Pattinson, Wales

Reviews: (4.75)

"Many statues and many fish. Easy dive for Kids also"
Maros, Slovakia, 23 May 2023

"A shallow dive but amazing marine life."
Marina, Cyprus, 1 April 2023

"A great walk in dive site. lots of fish and a good place for a refresher or for learning to dive "
Steve Saunders, 19 May 2014

"A walk in site that served as a perfect shake out dive. With swimming pool like conditions that fan out into open water, this is an amazing first dive to get you back into things. "
Damion Smythe-Whitehouse

"Great for beginners. Easy swim around and loads of fish for feeding at 3 m with statues sunk for the divers at 10 metres."
Michelle Pattinson, Wales

Reviews:

"Reef dive with great visibility and marine life"
Andy Varoshiotis, Owner, I Dive Cyprus. March 2023

Reviews: (2)

"A very pretty site although like most of the med sadly lacking in fishlife"
Steve Saunders, 19 May 2014

"Great swim throughs and the visability is wonderful. Water warm too, perfect!"
Eric Peters, UK

"To dive into caves and see marine life that you only normally see at night was awesome. Shrimp, crabs, octopus to name a few "
Damion Smythe-Whitehouse

Reviews:

"One hidden gem in Ayia Napa. The canyon is wonderful and natural"
Andy Varoshiotis, Owner, I Dive Cyprus. March 2023

Review:

"The newly sunk Kerynia wreck in Ayia Napa is a great training platform for those that wish to learn everything about wreck diving. The wreck offers penetration in 4 areas, its easy to navigate and is a great practice platform for beginers."
Andy Varoshiotis, Owner I Dive Cyprus, December 2015

"On sunny days a brilliant reef dive from 2-30 meters (beyond that there is only grass). Has a wall to approx. 32 m with much tropical fish swimming around "
Julian Winkler, Netherlands

Reviews: (1)

"Great training site. "
Ian, UK, 10 December 2018

"Big groupers, steep walls and some caves. The water temperature never goes below 16 ^oC and is 21 ^oC in June. Cyprus is famous for groupers and turtles."
Marion

Cyprus Diving Operators

Review a dive operator or list your diving company on this page.

Protaras

I Dive Cyprus

Award winning PADI elite instructors and NAUI instructor trainer center of Protaras and Ayia Napa. Daily guided dives on the wreck of the Zenobia. Open from April until November

I Dive Cyprus
Protara 29
Shop 4-6 Protaras 5296
Cyprus
Tel: +357 99689961
varoshiotisa@icloud.com

Add a review

"Andy was very friendly an funny"
Maros, Slovakia, 23 May 2023

"Andy was amazing. From minute one we arrived at the dive center everyone was very helpful funny and professional at the same time. The equipment is new, the personnel is very helpful and the dive center is a small cozy family place. 100% recommended. Best prices in Protaras and Ayia Napa"
Marina, Cyprus, 1 April 2023

"The newly sunk Kerynia wreck in Ayia Napa is a great training platform for those that wish to learn everything about wreck diving. The wreck offers penetration in 4 areas, its easy to navigate and is a great practice platform for beginners. The visit to the wreck is by catamaran from Ayia Napa harbour"
Andy Varoshiotis, Owner I Dive Cyprus, December 2015

Reviews: (3)

Scuba-Tec Diving Centre
PO Box 37165
Protaras 5307
Cyprus
Tel: +357 99 184002
petercrane@scubatechdivers.com

"I dived with Scuba Tech Diving Centre in Cyprus and they were a fantastic outfit. The guys couldn't do enough for us. They offer TDI and PADI TecRec and Pete is even an ISC Megalodon Rebreather Instructor. Pete did me a rebreather try dive on the meg too, which was amazing...a real way to challenge yourself if you have been diving for a while. My kids did a Discover Scuba Diving and I couldn't have put them in safer hands. We did lots of Shore diving, but i have to say that the best dive I did was the Zenobia. What a wreck. It is huge and very impressive with more life in that one spot than the rest of the island put together. The service from the guys at Scuba Tech made this one of the best diving holidays I have had. And the Zenobia was the massive cherry on the top "
Michelle Pattinson

"Rob Jones and Pete Crane couldn't do enough for us. An excellent service and we'll certainly be back again. Better than Red Sea Tek operators I've dived with. Cheers lads!"
Bob Calvert, UK, 2008

"Dived with Peter and Shelley at Scuba Tech Diving Centre. Small Groups, decent dive times (no dive less than 60minutes) and free nitrox gave real value for money. The Instructors are happy to give advice and spend time explaining different things. Got my regulators serviced too. Would definately recommend this outfit to everyone "
Andrew Bellamy

Old Diving School
P.0.Box 42235
Larnaca
Cyprus
6532
Tel +357 99438815
Fax: +357 24361858
E-mail: tekkis@gmail.com

"Dive-In Larnaca are a first class operation. I did a week's recreational diving with them and thoroughly explored the Zenobia wreck as well as having a fun day out at 2 shallow sites near Agia Napa. Good value for money - they dive in small groups and all the guides are PADI Instructors. "
Steve Saunders, 19 May 2014

Easy Divers Cyprus
P.O. BOX 30459
Ayia Napa
CYPRUS
5344
Tel: 00357 (99 676 216)
Fax: 00357 (23 833 371)
E-mail: Dive@EZDivers.com

Olympian Divers Ltd
PO Box 30536
Ayia Napa
Cyprus
5344
E-mail: info@olympiandivers.com

Scuba Cyprus
Kazim Ozalp Sok. No 1a
Alsancak
Kyrenia
Northern Cyprus
Turkey
Tel: +90 (0) 533 865 23 17
E-mail: info@scubacyprus.com.

Reviews:

"I dived with Scuba Cyprus who are outside Kyrenia , great guys with some good reefs just 5 minute rib boat ride away with some big grouper and amberjacks about also the occasional turtle in the hotter months "
Mark Gale, 2016

Amphora
Kyrenia
Northern Cyprus
Turkey
E-mail: asimuygur@superonline.com.

Reviews: (1)

"Erkan and Azim and the rest of the staff are fabulous. Some good deep dives - thermoclines after 18 metres - big fish too - great dive centre - and will dive again there for sure"
Alyson, Belgium, 2006

Mephisto Diving
Yeni Erenköy
Yeni I.skele Mersin 10
Karpaz
Northern Cyprus
Turkey
Tel: 0090 533 867 37 74
E-mail: info@mephisto-diving.com

Accommodation in Cyprus

Find a Hotel in Cyprus...

"Stayed at Louma apartments. Great rooms, newly refurbed with a lovely pool ad perfect location 2 minutes walk from the beach and the town. Great personal service from Geoff and Sheila at the Pool Bar. A great place to stay. Lovely apartments at budget prices "
Michelle Pattinson, Wales

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Further Reading

Sea Fishes of the Mediterranean Including Marine Invertebrates

by Lawson Wood, 128 pages, New Holland Publishers, 2019, Paperback.
Compact, photographic, guide to 289 species.
See more details...

Mediterranean and Atlantic Invertebrate Guide

by Helmut Debelius, 2003, hardback.
See more details...

Your Comments

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