Scuba
Diving in Cyprus
Cyprus attracts diving enthusiasts from all over
the world and has a variety of diverse dive sites all over the island.
The water temperature ranges from 16 degrees Celsius in January,
28 celsius in August and 24 in October making it an all year round
diving possibility and with a visibility of 30-40 metres, no tides
or currents makes for splendid diving with the warmth, clarity and
calmness of the Mediterranean Sea surrounding the island.
Dive Sites in Cyprus
There are a variety of dive sites on the island, namely in the Ayia
Napa/Protaras area on the east coast of the island, in Larnaca,
Limassol and on the western side of the island in Paphos. There
are shore dives as well as caves, tunnels and wrecks to be explored.
One of the most renowned wreck dives is the Zenobia
Wreck which is a ferry that sank in 1979. With the top of the wreck
at 16 metres and the sea bed at 43 metres, it is 172 metres in length
and still fully laden with numerous vehicles and has been under
the sea for 23 years the wreck offers diving for scuba divers of
differing qualifications. It is one of the world’s top 10
wreck dives and is a 10 minute boat ride from Larnaca.
Marine Life
There is a wide variety of marine life such as
moray eels, bream, groupter, wrasse, red mullet, soldier fish, fan
worms and spirographs. Much of the underwater fauna in the shallow
waters of Cyprus is at first un-noticeable but many animals are
there disguised
or hidden from sight. Many bury themselves in the sand, like several
species of Sand-urchin and Star Fish, the Sauries, the Weaver fish,
several Skates and Rays and the occasional spectacular Flying Gurnard.
In shallow rocky areas sea urchins predominate,
grazing on algae on the rock surface. The common fish here are Peacock
and Rainbow Wrasses, Bream, Blennies and Gobbies and small Parrot
Fish.
Below 10 metres the Posidonia oceanica meadows
begin providing a Mediterranean seascape. Posidonia is in fact not
seaweed but a flowereing plant. These areas of posidonia are rich
with fish life and a vital part of the ecosystem.
There are 2 decompression chambers in Cyprus –
one in Limassol in the British Forces Hospital and the other in
Larnaca General Hospital and both offer free treatment.
More on diving here
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