Nicknamed ‘The Titanic of the Mediterranean’, the vessel’s unfortunate story is as intriguing as her treasures…
The Swedish Challenger Class roll-on-roll-off ferry was carrying 108 articulated lorries with a diverse array of cargo on her maiden voyage in 1980. Having left Greece – en-route to Syria - she sank off the coast of Larnaka after slowly inclining over the course of a few days due to a malfunction in her computer-assisted stabilising system. Thankfully there were no casualties.
The magnificent, privately-owned vessel, now lies on her port side on a flat bed of sand and rocks where she continues to enchant divers from all over the world. In fact, there is so much of the vast Zenobia to explore that two dives are highly recommended, and many divers return year after year to relive the experience.
Aside from the thriving and abundant marine life that commands the wreck, her rich cargo of cars, military equipment, games, telecommunication systems and food has been immortalised by the sea, and even some of the one million hen eggs onboard remain intact to this day.
Zenobia Vital Statistics
Location: Larnaka Bay
Type of Dive Site: Wreck
Type of Diving: Recreational / Technical
Depth: 42 metres
Visibility: 25metres
Dimensions:172 metres long / 23 metres wide
Access: By boat
Qualification Required: Advanced Open water / Boat Diver
Marine Life:Barracuda, grouper, jacks, kingfish, lionfish, moray eels, octopus, sea breams, sea slugs, star fish, stingrays, trigger fish, tube worms, turtles.
Notable Features:The preserved cargo of military equipment, games, telecommunication systems and food items, which had an estimated value of £200 million at the time of sinking. Over 100 trucks that float in eerie suspension within the huge cargo bay. The two enormous propellers at the final stage of the dive. The site is also ideal for scooter diving.
