DevonDiver
N/A
The Zenobia is now off-limits to scuba divers. Shockingly bad decision by the port authority. We had a similar situation here in Subic Bay last year, regarding one of our 'signature' wrecks. Luckily common sense prevailed after a few months and the harbor authority relented.
I can only hope that the Cypriot authorities can come to the same decision.
My genuine commiserations to the diving operations that will suffer greatly because of this ill-informed and short-sighted policy making.
The Zenobia was my first 'proper' wreck dive, nearly 20 years ago. I've done hundreds of wrecks since... that that boat will always have a fond place in my memories.
Divers banned from one of world's top wrecks
Divers have been banned from diving the Zenobia, one of the worlds top wreck dives, following a controversial decision by the local port authority.
The decision was made after the family of a diver who died on the wreck in 2010 said they were considering taking legal action against the port. General Director Yiannakis Kokkinos said it was these legal reasons that had forced them to implement the closure.
The decision has dismayed many within the diving community, particularly given the fact the Zenobia regularly features in Top Ten Wreck Dives lists and is a huge attraction for dive tourists.
While the sites closure spells disappointment for divers, it could represent something altogether more serious for the resident dive schools.
Alex Dimitriou, who is just about to set up a diving school in Cyprus, told the Cyprus Mail: Its going to cripple every single dive school. The Zenobia is the one place that pulls divers in. Its like no other wreck.
The port authority has said new legal framework will be set up to allow divers to apply for a special licence allowing them to dive in the area. The details of this new setup are set to be revealed in the coming days.
The Zenobia sits at a depth of 42m-15m, making it ideal for novices and more advanced divers alike. The 12,000-tonne, 178-metre long ferry sank in 1980, with a cargo including approximately 1,000 lorries and industrial machinery.