Zenobia Week in Cyprus - The best diving site n the region!

Larnaca municipality, the Larnaca Tourism Board and the Larnaca-Napa Sea Cruises are organizing the international promotion of the Zenobia wreck, which is considered among the world’s 10 best diving sites.

Larnaca mayor Andreas Louroudjiatis stated that representatives of international diving organizations and foreign journalists from diving magazines have been invited.

According to Tourism Board chairman Dinos Lefkaritis, the Zenobia shipwreck attracts more that 60,000 divers throughout the year, bringing a significant income to the tourism sector. At the same time diving tourism can become a specialized form of tourism which could inject oxygen into the town’s economy. 

The Zenobia sank off Larnaca in June 1980 on her maiden voyage. The vessel was loaded with 108 lorries, refrigeration units, toys, food as well as animals. It has now been transformed into an artificial reef that hosts thousands of fish species such as groupers, barracudas, tuna, bream, wrasse and divers can watch corals, sea ​​anemones and various microorganisms.

The wreck is easily accessible and visibility around it is on the whole excellent. Moreover, the water temperature is good all year round.

Activities will be held within the week:

• For non-divers, there are free 45-minute cruises for the public twice daily from the Larnaca marina to the Zenobia wreck with glass bottom boats allowing time for swimming.
• For divers, several diving schools offer 20% discounts on diving sessions to the Zenobia wreck or on a wreck specialty course.
• Seminars will be organized on safety and decompression on the 25th of June and a seminar on the 27th of June for diving and on the marine environment 
• On the 28th of June there will be an underwater scooter demonstration
• On the 29th of June there will be a free dive (apnea) contest and an underwater photographic competition with prizes of up to €1,000.

Volunteers are needed for the 2 sea cleaning and environmental awareness campaigns; the Scuba Schools International SSI will clean the sea in all towns on the 23rd of June and CYMEPA will clean Mckenzie Beach on the 28th of June.

Throughout the week there will be an outdoor "Underwater World Photography Exhibition" at the entrance of the Larnaca Marina with photographs from the Zenobia wreck, the surrounding marine life and an exhibition with original items from the Zenobia at the Larnaca Municipal Historical Archives – Museum in Europe Square.