Protaras Wreck
Protaras wreck
A wreck near on Protaras Beach. We can only reach this spot by boat. It is an old British warship about 400 years old. The hull is totally in the sand. Only the cannon come out of the sand. Minimum depth of this spot is 26m. This spot is for experienced divers only. You will often find groupers at a big stone beside the wreck.
Originally, local divers discovered the wreck several years ago.
The wreck is named after its location at Green Bay.
The wreck remains are of old antique origin. it is estimated to be from the 17th century. it lays at a depth of about -30 meters.
On an immediate subsequent dive, photographs and a few basic measurements were taken.
The visual wreck site is about 30 meters x 20 meters.
Timbers of different size lay open on the slightly sloping sandy bottom within a poseidonia sea grass field. A part of the wreck field has organised timber fragments, which are approximately 1 meter in length where other parts of the site contain scrambled large timber fragments.
Within the site are numerous artefacts. Some smaller artefacts lay open and loose.
There are three cannons visible at the outskirts of the site. Two of them show rust spots. They are positioned in an angle laying flat on the bottom next to each other. They are 205 centimetres long. The front circumference is 60 cm, the end is 100 cm. Several meters away, one cannon is straight upright buried. Its front is sticking 78 cm out from the bottom. Front diameter is 22 cm with an inner barrel diameter of 10 cm. Towards its top are two rings of artwork. This cannon mite be of bronze.
The wreck site is partly covered by discarded fishing nets and lines.
Close to the wreck site an intact large amphorae of about 70 cm was found and it showed recent movement.
A GPS position was taken and the Department Of Antiquities of Cyprus was immediately informed of the finds.
The wreck is known by people. Several years ago, film footage was produced and aired by a Cypriot TV station.
So far, the wreck site is little protected and fishing remains on site possibly disturbing or destroying artefacts. During the dives, it became evident that artefacts were recently moved.