It is essential for any diver who plans to SCUBA dive in Cyprus to make a trip to this famous wreck their top priority in order to enjoy some fantastic Zenobia diving. Pissouri Bay Divers provides second-to-none service with qualified, extremely experienced instructors and guides, the best gear, and kit, and a first-rate, individualised experience when diving on the Zenobia.
“Wrecks are intriguing windows into the past,” says owner Steve Theakston, “whether they were intentionally sunk as an artificial reef for scuba divers or lost as a consequence of an accident. The Zenobia, Cyprus' most well-known wreck, is the ideal location for finishing the PADI Wreck package. When SCUBA diving in Cyprus, Zenobia Diving is a necessity. The crystal-clear seas with visibility frequently exceeding 50 metres, excellent diving boats with lots of amenities including snacks, sun loungers, medical supplies, restrooms, and a BBQ. And of course, the tranquil sea that will lure you to paradise—there’s a reason the Zenobia package is so popular. It’s a life-altering experience.”
In 1980, a 172-meter-long roll-on-roll-off ferry carrying 104 articulated vehicles loaded with merchandise for Syria sunk 1.5 kilometres off the coast of the port of Larnaca. There are many conspiracies surrounding the strange sinking of the Zenobia, but according to official sources, she was having stability issues and moored in the port of Larnaca to try and fix the problem, but the repair attempts were unsuccessful.
The harbour master requested that she be moved 1.5 km offshore because he could not take the chance of such a big ship sinking in the port and stopping all trade. As the situation grew worse, the skipper gave the order to "abandon ship" just before she began to tilt to the port side past the point of no return and headed for the sea floor, where she is still submerged today.
She is now submerged at a depth of 42 metres, with her starboard side being the highest at 18 metres, making her the ideal dive site for divers of all experience levels, and those who are starting with open water dives. The Zenobia has established herself as a reliable artificial reef, bringing in a wide variety of fish and other marine creatures, such as turtles, moray eels, barracudas, grouper, bream, wrasse, and a growing number of lionfish. Pissouri Bay Divers has a top-notch teaching platform that can accommodate all courses, from Advanced Open Water to the most difficult technical courses when diving on the Zenobia.
With the push and pull of modern life, you can start to feel strained and frayed. This is why the friendly and professional instructors at Pissouri Bay Divers want to make this remarkable experience one you’ll never forget. The underwater world is astounding, and when you’re diving on the Zenobia you are immersed in a mesmerising environment that will make you forget your troubles and just be in the moment—a perfect antidote to the “always-on” mode of living. When diving with Pissouri Bay Divers on the Zenobia, you'll survey and chart the wreck over the course of four dives with one of our knowledgeable instructors, use unique finning methods, and employ penetration lines as part of your training. You’ll feel comfortable with your diving abilities and thoroughly enjoy your diving activities.
About Us:
Pissouri Bay Divers is the most established diving centre in Pissouri and the Pissouri Bay area. It is only a 2-minute walk from the recently renovated Columbia Hotel & Resort and is located just 100 metres from the sea. In 2009, Tracey and Neil founded the family-run diving shop Pissouri Bay Divers, which has been a dedicated PADI Dive Centre ever since. Additionally, it has received PADI 5*status, which designates the centre as a reputable centre that provides professional diving instruction.
We take pleasure in offering the best diving in Cyprus at Pissouri Bay Divers, from the fundamental Bubblemaker (for 8 and 9-year-olds) and Discover SCUBA Diving (DSD) programmes through all PADI courses up to the highly specialised Divemaster certificates.
Since March 2018, Steve, who had a lengthy career in the British military before retiring in January 2017, has owned and operated the business. Steve is a Master SCUBA Diver Trainer (MSDT) who achieved PADI Elite Instructor rank for the 2019 and 2020 diving seasons. During his first season of 2018, Steve was also awarded the PADI Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Service and Professionalism in PADI Instruction. Steve takes pleasure in providing the best service he can while maintaining a very laid-back attitude. Safety is always the top priority, standards are never waived, and customer satisfaction is ensured. https://pissouribaydivers.com/.