Author: Christos

The Nail

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Located close to the Bullet Point (Skopia) dive site, The Nail takes its name from a rock shaped like a nail that looks downwards to the bay. Conditions are always favourable at the site, and it is quite similar to its neighbouring Bullet Point (Skopia) in the experience it offers divers, making it ideal for beginners and snorkellers thanks to its shallow depths.

The interesting rock formations of the site create a welcoming habitat for an array of marine life including sea slugs, starfish, moray eels, whilst grouper, red snapper and squid are spotted seasonally.

Location: Xylofagou, Larnaka
GPS Coordinates: 34° 57’27.16″N 33° 50’9.03″E
Type of Dive Site: Rocky & Small Caverns
Depth: 17 metres
Visibility: 20+ metres
Access: Shore
Qualification Required: Open Water
Dive Category: Recreational Diving

Watchtower (Bullet point)

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This site takes its name due to its proximity to a local shooting range, with bullets visible on the seabed, but is also known as ‘Skopia’ which means ‘watchtower). It provides an easy diving experience with low currents and varying levels making it ideal for beginners and snorkellers too.
The natural reef is characterised by varying rock walls and crevices of different lengths and heights, as well as impressivegeomorphological formations with many semi-enclosed caves, small bays with coral substrate, and meadows of Posidonia seagrass.
 
Species encountered during this dive include fire worms, goblids, nudibranch,moray eels, tube worms, scorpionfish, sea slugs, starfish, wrasses, as well as colonies of the Mediterranean endemic pillow coral.Larger fish dwell in the caves.
Tour the site virtually here.
 

Location:Xylofagou, Larnaka
Coordinates: 34° 57’38.79″N 33° 49’47.84″E
Type of Dive Site: Rock & Canyon
Depth:16 metres
Visibility:20 metres
Access: Shore / By boat
Qualification Required: Open Water
Dive Category: Recreational Diving

Watchtower (Bullet point) by visitcyprus on Sketchfab

For the Coral 1 click here

For the Coral 2 click here

Cape Pyla Reef

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This dive is characterised by a series of rock formations with interesting, small canyons that ascend from the bottom, adding interest to the swim throughs.

The site is perfect for the more claustrophobic diver, or a beginner to cave dives, as entry into the cave is safe and the exit point is clearly visible. Furthermore, there is a striking illusion of brightness throughout the cave and swim throughs thanks to the different layers of the seabed in combination with the colour of the rocks and the white sand.

The rich marine life consists of sea stars, sea slugs, shells, and soft sponges and corals, among other delightful discoveries.

Location: Xylofagou, Larnaka
GPS Coordinates: 34° 56’23.67″N 33° 51’16.22″E
Type of Dive Site: Reef & Small Canyons
Depth: 18 metres
Visibility: 20+ metres
Access: By boat
Qualification Required: Open Water / Boat Diver
Dive Category: Recreational Diving

Pyla Pirate Caves

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The stunning underwater caves and caverns of this site are as beautiful as they are unique. As the only place on the island where you can dive in a cave and surface inside a mountain, the experience is further enriched by stalactites and a dazzling range of different blue hues throughout.
 
All three caves at the site can be entered with a single dive. And although the marine life here is not as prolific as at the reefs of Larnaka, it is certainly special; the caves are one of the few places on the island where you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the shy Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus).

An array of different coloured crabs also dwell here, as well assmall spotted cleaning shrimp. In the upper cave – where divers resurface – bats hang from the ceiling, amidst the minimal light that streams in through the crevices.

Location: Xylofagou,Larnaka
GPS Coordinates: 34° 56’38.83″N 33° 51’16.57″E
Type of Dive Site: Caves & Caverns
Depth: 5 metres
Visibility: 20 metres
Access: By boat
Qualification Required: Open Water / Boat Diver
Dive Category:Recreational Diving

Alexandria Shipwreck

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The Alexandria is an Egyptian wooden fishing boat that sank in 2006; one of the few wooden shipwrecks on the island.

The vessel sank perfectly onto the seabed where she continues to sit – just 200 metres from the world-famous Zenobia wreck – attracting shoals to the overgrowth that now embraces her. Turtles sometimes visit the reef and there have even been dolphin sightings.
Among the schools of fish that flourish at the wreck are barracuda, big grouper, jacks, kingfish, parrotfish and tuna. Brightly coloured sea slugs (flambelina and nudibranch) also favour the old wooden vessel.

The wreck’s depth and its small swim throughs make it suitable for technical diving, with the use of nitrox advised.

Location:Xylofagou, Larnaka Bay
Coordinates: 34° 53.49 N 33° 39.27E
Type of Dive Site: Wreck
Depth: 30 metres
Visibility: 20+ metres
Dimensions: 30 metres long / 9 metres wide
Access: By boat
Qualification Required: Advanced Open Water/ Boat Diver
Dive Category:Recreational and Technical Diving

Alexandria (dive_route) by visitcyprus on Sketchfab

For the Alexandria shipwreck dive route click here

LEF1 Shipwreck

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The LEF1 vessel (built in 1955) is one of two wrecks that were submerged in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Larnaka in 2019 to create the region’s first artificial reef (alongside the MV Elpida). It is also the island’s first artificial snorkelling reef.

Stretching parallel to the shore, the vessel is the ideal option for non-experienced divers and snorkellers. It is also great for underwater photography and a fish identification speciality course. The interior of the small boat is accessible to divers, making it a suitable practise site in lieu of deeper wreck dives.
A unique array of marine life of different sizes has rapidly taken to the reef and is further encouraged by the addition of eco-friendly amphorae in the MPA, including: amberjack, colourful wrasse, damselfish, gobbids, grey triggerfish, grouper, lionfish, marbled spinefoot rabbitfish, parrotfish, spraids and yellowspotted pufferfish.

Tour the dive virtually here.

Location:Voroklini, Larnaka
GPS Coordinates:34° 57’8.23″N 33° 40’8.50″E
Type of Dive Site:Wreck & Reef
Depth:13 metres
Visibility:15-25
Dimensions:15.5 metres long / 4 metres wide
Access:By boat
Qualification Required: Open Waters
Dive Category: Recreational Diving

Elpida Shipwreck

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The MV Elpida is one of two wrecks that were submerged in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Larnaka in 2019 to create the region’s first artificial reef (alongside the LEF1).

Constructed in Germany in 1965, the Elpida was used as an active cargo vessel in Greece until she was sent to Cyprus specifically to be repurposed as an artificial reef.

The vessel quickly attracted diverse marine life, which continues to grow and thrive thanks to eco-friendly amphorae that have been added to the MPA to further encourage marine diversity. Divers can admire (among other species): amberjack, blue-spotted cornetfish, cardinalfish, damselfish, grouper, long-spined urchin, octopi, parrotfish, pearl oyster, squirrelfish, thorny oyster and yellowspotted pufferfish. Dolphins have also been sighted at the reef.

The wreck is suitable for two dives in a day thanks to her size and provides an ideal introduction into wreck diving with long bottom times. The cargo containers and all decks are fully accessible to divers; the main deck starts at 20 metres, whilst the masts start at 10 metres. Divers can also access the large container area of the ship, the engine room, and the bridge. There are several decks suitable for confined diving and wreck penetration – with a torch advisable to explore and fully enjoy the darker crevices.

 

Tour the dive virtually here.

Dive Specs
Location:Voroklini, Larnaka
GPS Coordinates:34° 57’06.3″N 33° 41’05.6″E
Type of Dive Site:Wreck
Depth:30 metres
Visibility: 15-25 metres
Dimensions:63 metres long / 10 metres wide
Access:By boat (2km from the shore)
Qualification Required:Advanced Open Water / Advanced Diver
Dive Category: Recreational and Technical Diving

Elpida (diving_routes) by visitcyprus on Sketchfab

For the Elpida Shipwreck Diving Route click here

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