From 0 - 40 metres below

Scuba Diving is one of those activities that you are going to dislike but want to try again anyway or you just can't get enough of it and your totally addicted.

I fall in the latter category and where did I learn to dive you guessed it right here in Cyprus.  Okay so my first lesson I was in category one but after a second third and four go well the only thing that gets in the way is work.  I have even got my husband involved like all good partners should do they share the good things in life.

Anyway, diving in Cyprus is not like most of the places you visit.  There is plenty of small marine life and all dives are taken at that Cypriot slowly-slowly pace so there is chance to have a good look around and under that rock and through that passageway.

There is a Diving Society here in Cyprus and all the dive clubs are members or in the process of joining.  The campaign the government to dive rights in various locations in the hope of discovering more dive sites for the tourists to enjoy.  You may have heard on the new lately that a Cypriot gentleman has discovered a treasure of hundreds of Roman pots and archaeologists are establishing how they ended up on the sea bed.  Hopefully , once the researchers have done there thing us normal folk will be able to have a look at the treasurers in there resting place and not in a museum.

One of the biggest diving draws for Cyprus is the wreck of the Roll On Roll Off ferry that sank in 1980 with her cargo still intact - the Zenobia.  On her maiden voyage she began to list to the starboard side and pulled into port at Larnaka.  After engineers worked on her for several hours they corrected the situation, however as she set out for her destination of Syria she again listed.  The Captain made the decision to abandon ship and her passengers and crew were evacuated before she was towed out to sea and sank in 42meters of water.

The site is now owned and managed by Andreas and he organises boats and lunch for all who wish to dive the Zenobia.  The best way to do it though is by speaking to the local dive school/centre and letting them make all the arrangements of getting there, diving and lunch.  the other advantage of this is that you get to find out what other dives are available in the area for the rest of your stay.

There is also the possibility of the disabled having a go with specially qualified Instructors.  Please speak with your Doctor or Specialist prior to your holiday.  All divers are required to complete a PADI Medical questionnaire prior to diving, a copy of this can be found at www.padi.com . 

Any qualified divers must bring with them their qualification details, log books and medical certificates and insurance documents.  If any part of this is missing it may mean that you will have to complete a Discover Scuba Dive Training session before diving to a maximum of 18mtrs.
If you have lost or had stolen your qualification details please contact your issuing body for replacements prior to your trip so that you can enjoy your time to the maximum.

To give you a brief overview
Paphos Area
The Wreck of the Vera K - a small Lebanese freighter that ran aground in 1974.  She was used as target practice for the Cypriot Military until she became a hazard to shipping in the area and they blew her up.  She now rests at around 11 meters.  The bridge is still intact and makes for a good underwater photograph.

 

Amphorae Caves - just a few minutes boat ride away from the Vera K is the Amphorae's Caves.  These caves are compact and hold as the name suggests Amphorae (Roman Pottery).  The pottery however is not lying about on the floor of the cave but embedded in the ceiling.  If you have a torch take it along as it makes the experience all the more enjoyable.

Amphitheatre - this is up the coast in Coral Bay.  A natural amphitheatre at 9meters but depths do go to around 14 meters.  This dive is exceptional at night with shoals of pipe fish and jelly fish in abundance.

From the Experienced Diver Only (50+dives) Jubilee Shoals - this is normally completed as a two tank dive.  The first dive follows a pinnacle down to the entrance of a cave at 35meters.  The cave then follows along to an exit further down at 40meters.  This dive is for experienced divers only due to the sea bed being somewhere passed 60meters.  The second dive is shallower but just as interesting following along from the top of the pinnacle onto the sea bed at 17 meters.

Larnaka
The Zenobia - Ro Ro ferry lying at 42meters on her starboard side.  Sunk in 1980 after technical difficulties.  This dive is for Advanced Divers and above and consists normally of two dives.

HMS Cricket - also situated close Larnaka harbour.  A WW2 Gunboat which was sunk after the war by the RAF.  Lying at 33meters she can be penetrated and swum under due to the currents creating a sandy patch underneath her.

The Jetty - The wreck of a British Army Ferret armoured car.  This is a great training dive and night dive location.  This is due to the area being protected with no fishing rights making marine life abundant.

The Helicopter Wreck - An intact British Army Air Helicopter a rare opportunity dive such a wreck.  This site is populated by jacks, moray eel, grouper and octopus.  Lying at 16meters this a great dive for everyone.

Limassol
Akrotiri Fish Reserve - is a fabulous place to interact with the local marine life.  At around 9 meters this is a great first dive after a break or just for the fun of being so close to so many fish at once.  You can hand feed moray eels, bream and bass at this location.

Big Country - Caves and overhangs with the help of some 12meter boulders help this multilevel dive to be very interesting.  With a maximum depth of 23 meters ideal for your Advanced Deep dive session or just a deep dive.

M/Y Diana - a 50ft Russian yacht that foundered in 1996.  Landing upright this is a beautiful site for photography, night and wreck dives with large squid and shoals of fish around.

These are just a handful of the dive sites available in Cyprus why not come and dive for yourself to see the beauties are waters hold.

If you have any photographs of dive sites in Cyprus waters that you feel would benefit other divers please feel free to email them to us at info@medsunholidays.com and we will name and publish as many as we can.  (please send all photographs in their original size and quality so that we may show them in as good a quality as possible.)