Author: cconstantinou

Octopus

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This beautiful reef is named from its many channels that resemble octopus tentacles when viewed from above, rather than the sea creature, which is also abundant at the site.

The reef is equally enjoyablefor both beginners and advanced divers, and is also suitable for honing diving skills, including mapping, night diving, navigation and deep diving.

The dive is picturesque, with white sand, some Posidoniaseagrass andsmall rockswhere small fish, sea cucumbers and abundantsea anemones dwell.

Other marine life includes grouper, nudibranch, lionfish, moray eels, sea urchins, and of course the many octopi. Turtles can also be spotted.

 

Location: Protaras, Ammochostos
GPS Coordinates: 34°59’27.77″N 34° 4’30.12″E
Type of Dive Site: Rocky
Depth: 15 metres
Visibility: 20+ metres
Access: Shore (rocky entrance)
Qualification Required: Open Water
Dive Category:Recreational Diving

 


Octopus_site by visitcyprus on Sketchfab

For the Octopus diving route click here

Antennas

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Taking its name from the four large antennas at the spot of the dive, finding this site in the Cape Gkreko area is as easy as the dive itself.

The site offers interest with its combination of cave and reef, whilst its rocky bottom makes it rich in microorganisms.

It is popular for navigation and other diving skill honing, whilst for the more adventurous diver, a night dive is simply a must-experience.

Location:Protaras, Ammochostos
GPS Coordinates:34° 57’44.79″N 34° 4’49.41″E
Type of Dive Site:Rocky bottom with small caverns
Depth:16 metres
Visibility:20+ metres
Access:Rocky Entrance (2-3 metres drop-off)
Qualification Required: Open Water
Dive Category: Recreational Diving

Caves

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Part of the Cape Gkreko network of dive sites, Caves is characterised by natural stone formations and is favoured by new divers seeking an interesting and exciting underwater landscape.

There are two entry points; one with 1.5 metre drop-off and one with a three-metre drop-off. Divers can exit from the entry point, or the more daring can opt for the hole at the top of the cave.

The mesmerising array of geology to explore includes impressive lava rock and a rock that resembles the shape of Cyprus. The numerous through and through caves and the tunnels are peppered with coloured stones that glisten in the crystal-clear seawaters.
The small rocks and crevices are teeming with marine life, including bearded fireworms, bream, grouper, moray eels, ornate wrasse, octopi and turtles.

Location:Cape Gkreko, Protaras, Ammochostos
GPS Coordinates:34° 57’48.86″N 34° 4’23.33″E
Type of Dive Site:Flat, Sandy, (through and through caverns)
Depth:12 metres
Visibility:20+ metres
Access:1) 1.5 metre drop-off, 2) 3 metre drop-off
Qualification Required: Open Water
Dive Category: Recreational Diving

 

Caves by visitcyprus on Sketchfab

Da Costa

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This beautiful and tranquil dive site is located in a protected area and is ideal for introductory dives. The easy shore entry, predominantly flat and sandy seabed, minimal waves and small rocky formations teeming with marine life make it particularly suitable for beginners. 

Turtles are frequently spotted, sometimes just 2–4 metres from the start of the dive. At greater depths, a series of submerged statues – including a mermaid, a lion and a dwarf – provides beginners with an excellent opportunity to practise their buoyancy control. 

The sandy seabed, with its meadows of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica, provides an ideal environment for cuttlefish to lay their eggs, while the adults swim protectively around their offspring. Barracuda and seahorses can also be observed in the area. 

Location: Protaras, Famagusta 


GPS Coordinates: 35°0’24.58″N 34° 3’44.63″E 
Type of Dive Site: Shore dive 
Depth: 11 metres 
Visibility: 15+ metres 
Access: From the shore (on foot) 
Required Certification: Open Water 
Diving Category: Recreational

 

Da Costa by visitcyprus on Sketchfab 

For the Da Costa diving route, click here. 

Green Bay Cave

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Green Bay Cave is a series of majestic through and through caves and caverns located close to the Green Bay diving site.

This easy dive is known for its spectacular marine life and is home to a large variety of fish, corals and colourful sea flora. Cave dwellers include lionfish, moray eels and turtles, amidst more commonly sighted species such as barracuda, bream, damselfish, rainbow wrasses and zebra breams.

The site is also great for scooter diving.

Location:Cape Gkreko – Protaras, Ammochostos
GPS Coordinates:34° 59’57.28″N 34° 4’11.37″E 
Type of Dive Site:Rocky bottom, small caverns (through and through), also suitable for scooter diving
Depth:17 metres
Visibility:20+ metres
Access:Shore
Qualification Required: Open Water
Dive Category: Recreational Diving

Liberty Shipwreck

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The Liberty wreck was sunk in the Protaras Marine Protected Area (MPA) in 2009 to create an artificial reef, later joined by the Nemesis III wreck that was sunk in 2013.

The wreck – formerly a Russian cargo ship – sits upright, just 90 metres from the Nemesis III, which makes it ideal for scooter diving. This is made all-the-more interesting thanks to a two-metre cross that was submerged there by famous Russian explorer Feodor Konyukhov and added to with a statue of the Mother of God later by a Russian dive school.

The site is safe and ideal for basic wreck diving and rewards the diver with abundant marine life, including bright anemone on the deck. A torch is recommended to fully appreciate the dazzling colours. Other marine life includes bream, groupers, lionfish, moray eels, sea slugs, squid and tube worms.

 

Location: Protaras, Ammochostos
GPS Coordinates: 35° 2’59.47″N 34° 2’11.76″E
Type of Dive Site: Wreck (also suitable for scooter diving)
Depth: 27 metres
Visibility: 20+ metres
Dimensions: 37 metres long / 10 metres wide
Access: By boat
Qualification Required: Advanced Open Water / Boat Diver
Dive Category: Recreational Diving

 

Liberty Shipwreck by visitcyprus on Sketchfab

For the Liberty diving route click here

Cyclops

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Considered to be one of the most beautiful dive sites of the Cape Gkreko area, this site takes its name from the cave above that legend tells was the hideout of the mythical one-eyed Cyclops. Rather, it is a magnificent, half-submerged grotto with a stunning topography of huge boulders, rocks, seagrass and sand – including a sandy, uphill path between meadows of Posidonia seagrass.

The versatility of the site makes it popular as it offers each diving level a different experience. It is ideal as a practise site for mapping, night diving, navigation and deep dives, as well as snorkelling. As such, both beginners and technical divers will enjoy exploring the interesting underwater landscape and the cliff’s marine life, including bream, grouper, lionfish, moray eels, nudibranch, sea urchins and starfish, among other species.


Location: Konnos Bay – Protaras, Ammochostos
GPS Coordinates: 34° 59’10.24″N 34° 4’35.99″E
Type of Dive Site: Rocky, Sandy, Drop-off (cliff)
Depth: 45 metres
Visibility: 20+ metres
Access: Shore (difficult) / By boat
Qualification Required: Open Water
Dive Category:Recreational and Technical Diving


Cyclops Diving Site by visitcyprus on Sketchfab

To view the Jetski click here