Train with us!
In his seminal work on the subject, The Advanced Wreck Diving Handbook,[2] Gary Gentile sub-divides wreck diving into three categories:
- Non-penetration diving (ie. swimming over the wreck)
- Limited penetration diving, within the "light zone"
- Full penetration diving, beyond the "light zone"
Each succeeding level involves greater risk, and therefore will normally require greater levels of training, experience and equipment. Non-penetration wreck diving is barely more hazardous than conventional scuba diving (save that the underlying terrain may present greater risk of sharp edges). Penetration within the light zone presents greater hazards due to overhead and greater proximity of the wreck's structure, but because of the proximity of visibility of an exit point, those hazards are more manageable. Full penetration diving obviously introduces a number of further risks, including the risk of getting lost and the inability to escape unassisted in the event of a disruption to air supply.
This categorization broadly coincides with the traditional division between "recreational" wreck diving (taught as a specialty course by recreational diver training agency which is normally expressed to be limited to the "light zone" and/or 100 cumulative feet of depth plus penetration) and "technical" wreck diving (taught as a stand alone course by technical diver training agencies).
Wreck Diver Training
The Famous Zenobia Wreck in Larnaca Bay is one of the best Wrecks in the world that offers a good diversity of wreck diving with year round access. We have a number of wrecks in Cyprus that are nearby which make excellent training platforms such as the Liberty Wreck the Clipper Wreck, for our students and divers who wish to increase their overhead environment skills. Newly certified divers get an extensive training during there wreck and deep specialty prior of proceeding in more advance wreck penetration techniques.
Our wreck instructors have visited wrecks around the world in varying environments and can share those experiences and that knowledge with you.
Please see the left tool bar in this section for the two levels of wreck diving we offer. In addition see the Local Dive Sites section for a description and more information on our wreck diving.
If you have any more questions or would like to make reservations for wreck diving email us.
Wreck Diver Training is offered to provide training for divers looking to enjoy more than just the outside of the wreck, but as well do limited penetrations into the overhead environment. This course can be done on air but we strongly encourage all divers to be diving nitrox on the dives we have here in Cyprus due to the depths and bottom times. This is a proper course similar to the cavern diver course in structure, this is not a couple of dives around the edge of a sunken van in the local pond.
Prerequisites
- 18 Years of Age
- Advanced Open Water Diver Certified
- 50 Logged Dives
- Nitrox Certification or combine with the course
Content
- Lectures
- Land Drills
- Confined Water Sessions
- Open Water Dives
- Final Exam (passing score of 80%)
Duration
- 3 Days
- 8 Hours of Lecture
- Minimum of 4 Wreck Dives
- One confined water session
Limits
- Maximum Depth is 130ft/39 Meters.
- Maximum of Four students per Instructor
- Unobstructed surface light access must be available
- Appropriate decompression depending on divers previous decompression training.
Location |
|
| Country | CYPRUS |
| Name | ZENOBIA |
| Rating | (5 out of 10 World Wide) |
Details |
|
| Constructed | Malmo, Sweden. |
| Launched | Late 1979. |
| Type | Roll-on roll-off motor-ferry with two decks and double stern doors with ramps. |
| Displacement | 12,000 grt (metric). |
| Dimensions | 172·02m x 23·04m with a draught of 13m. |
| Machinery | Two 7 cylinder diesel engines supporting 2 variable pitch propellers built by Sumitomo Heavy Industries of Japan. |
| Output | |
| Owners | Rederi-A/B Nordo of Malmo. |
| Fallacies | |
| Depth | 19 - 42m |
Zenobia entered the Mediterranean Sea through the Gibraltar Strait on May 22nd 1980 and sailed to Keraklion, Crete. After 2 days moored there she departed for Port Piraeus, Greece. En route to Athens the captain noticed problems with the steering and Zenobia began listing to the port side.
Checks revealed that the listing was caused by too much water being pumped into the ballast tanks. After 4 days in Pireaus the water was pumped out of the ballast tanks and the problem was believed to have been solved.
Onward to Syria the next stop for Zenobia was Larnaca, Cyprus where she arrived on June 3rd 1980. The problem with the ballast had recurred. In Larnaca engineers discovered that the computerised pump system for the ballast was still pumping water into the side ballast tanks and the listing was becoming progressively worse.
On the 4th of June with no solution to the listing arrived at, the Zenobia was towed out of Larnaca as a pre-caution for other shipping in Larnaca port. She was left at anchor between 1500 and 2000 metres offshore to await a possible solution to the problem. All the crew were removed from the ship by lifeboat.
On June 5th at 5pm the captain dismissed the engineers / maintenance crew which it is suggested was a mistake.
Still listing at around 45° the Zenobia could not be taken back into Larnaca harbour despite requests from its captain.
The problem of fixing the fault and righting the ship had become overwhelming and the Zenobia was effectively abandoned just outside Larnaca harbour.
After 2 days outside Larnaca at 2.30am on June 7th 1980 the Zenobia sank to the bottom of the Mediterranean in 42 metres with its £200 million worth of vehicles and cargo.
Zenobia - 34'53.5" N, 33'39.1" E
There are many rumours surrounding the exact cause of the sinking of the Zenobia none of which have ever been proved and it seems never will be.
According to local legend the insurance money for the Zenobia was never collected by its owners and no formal investigation into the sinking has ever been published.
This article is drawn from many public sources and the amount of myth and speculation surrounding the Zenobia may have lead to some errors. This article is intended only to give the casual reader a background in the events surrounding the sinking of the Zenobia.
Despite her value, no attempt has ever been made to salvage any part of the ship. As a shipwreck of such size and quality, she is also able to offer the complete range of Dives from advanced open water - to serious technical and penetration Diving. The fact that she is one her side, however, should not be dismissed and even the experienced Diver may become disorientated. Sadly, there have been at least two deaths on this wreck in addition to one or two near misses. The Zenobia is, therefore, a very serious Dive for very serious Divers. With the right Diving Guide, the right level of experience - and the right attitude, a visit to this shipwreck can be the most rewarding and exciting experience - but do be warned...
NOTES: This course can be taught in singles cylinders or double cylinders (if Adv. Eanx trained) and we prefer double cylinders. At this level of training divers we highly recommend that divers own their own equipment.
If you are interested in more information on wreck diving training just email us at info@idive.com.cy.