Our 7 ships...

We now have six ships lying as wrecks off or near the coast of Cyprus.

To be honest, I only knew about three until yesterday.

We only discovered this when we started looking into the island more closely.

Update 12/24:

We've discovered another ship. And it's practically on our doorstep: not far from the port of Paphos.

Here lies the

VERA K

at a depth of 11 meters. It, too, is now only of interest to divers.

The freighter, formerly sailing under the Lebanese flag, ran aground here in shallow water in 1972.

Initially, the army used the vessel for training purposes. Later, the Vera was declared a danger to other ships and promptly blown up in 1974, lying in the crater created by the explosion ever since. A rather unusual way to dispose of scrap metal...

At least for divers, it's probably a worthwhile destination.

Let's continue with the westernmost wreck:

The EDRO III

It is one of the more well-known shipwrecks.

On the night of December 7, 2011, the Edro III set sail from Limassol for Rhodes, carrying plasterboard. However, severe storms led to disaster: 15 kilometers off Paphos, the ship struck a rock and drifted helplessly ashore. On the morning of December 8, the freighter ran aground on rocky ground near Peyia and radioed "Mayday" at 5:43 a.m. Seven crew members were rescued by a British military helicopter, while the captain and first officer remained on board. To prevent any salvage claims, the captain remained on the wreck for weeks afterward.

A little further southeast, before Paphos, we find the

The MV Demetrios

On March 23, 1998, the M/V Demetrios II, sailing under the Honduran flag, ran aground in rough seas near the Paphos lighthouse. The ship was carrying a cargo of timber from Greece to Syria. The eight-member crew – four Greeks, two Pakistanis, and two Syrians – were rescued by a British military helicopter. Lloyd's List later revealed that the captain's and first officer's certificates were forged. The wreck remains visible from the strait between Paphos and Coral Bay.

A little further southeast, on the Akrotiri peninsula, lies the

Three Stars

On February 17, 1967, the ship caught fire and ran aground in Episkopi Bay. There, the ship sank, resulting in a total loss. Even after the disaster, the SS Three Stars was renamed and is now better known as the Akotiri Shipwreck.

It lies at a depth of approximately 6-7 meters and is also a popular dive site.

A little further east, towards Larnaca, lies the

Without a name

Off Mazotos, archaeologists discovered the largest shipwreck ever found off the coast of Cyprus – a merchant vessel from the 4th century BC, laden with wine amphorae from the Aegean Sea. The wreck lies at a depth of 40–45 meters and was first investigated in 2007. The finds, including amphorae and ship parts, are kept in the Larnaca Museum.

In 2018, an international team continued the excavations and discovered 70 more amphorae, including one containing olives for the crew. Furthermore, innovative shipbuilding techniques of the Greeks and Phoenicians were revealed, providing valuable insights into the seafaring of the eastern Mediterranean, as only two other shipwrecks from this period are known.

A little further east, just outside Larnaca, lies the popular

Zenobia

On May 28, 1980, the ill-fated voyage of the Zenobia began from Koper to Syria. With 200 passengers and 120–150 trucks on board, the ferry developed a severe list starting on June 3. Despite technical repairs, the ship capsized again to a 40° list off Larnaca.

On June 7, 1980, shortly before reaching the port of Larnaca, the Zenobia sank at approximately 2:00 a.m. about 1,500 meters off the coast. All passengers and crew members were rescued in time. The wreck remains to this day at a depth of 43 meters and is a popular destination for divers.

Far to the east, just outside Protaras, lies the

NEMESIS III

In 2013, the "Nemesis III" sank in the waters off Protaras – intentionally and with a specific purpose: The old French fishing boat, built in 1956, was sunk in a marine protected area to create an artificial reef. Today, the wreck attracts adventurers from all over the world. Divers can not only explore the ship's exterior but also dive into the mysterious cabin and experience the wreck up close.

There's so much more to discover on our cozy island. Why not check this out too?

THE AVAKAS GORGE.