Discover the “underwater ark” of Greek history: 91 wrecks accessible to divers
Good news for those who love recreational diving! The Central Council of Modern Monuments recommended to The Culture Ministry the opening of 91 marine ship and plane wrecks that scuba divers will soon be allowed to legally visit.
The 91 wrecks comprise mainly of ships and a few aircrafts that sank between 1868- 1970, most of them during World War II. They are located at depths ranging from 10-120 meters. The degree of their documentation varies depending on the depth or the turbidity conditions of the sea in the areas where they are located.
According to the Culture Minister Lina Mendoni: “the seabed of the Greek seas is an underwater ark of our history. The protected underwater areas, where shipwrecks from World War II are located, tell pages of modern Greek history”. The Minister emphasized the strong growth potential of the underwater tours as it is a niche form of tourism that attracts high-level and income visitors.
According to paragraph 2 of article 7 of Law 4688/2020, there are certain conditions when diving in shipwrecks: divers are prohibited from any intervention or alteration in shipwrecks, as well as the collection, collection or simple movement of any objects or the seabed around. This ensures both the integrity of the wrecks themselves as monuments and the safety of diving visitors.
More than a quarter of the listed wrecks are located on the seabed of the Southern Aegean (24), followed by the Attica Region (16) and Central Macedonia (11). The see the comprehensive list of those wrecks by region below.
The following is a list of shipwrecks by Region:
A. Attica Region (16)
1) Greek passenger steamer PATRIS. It sank by accident on June 15, 1927, near the islet of Patroclus in the Saronic Gulf. Maximum depth 72 meters.
2) British cable ship RETRIEVER. It was sunk by the German air force in April 1941, near the Hellinikon airport. Maximum depth 54 meters.
3) British cargo steamer CLAN CUMMING. It sank from a landmine in April 1941, east of Aegina. Maximum depth 90 meters.
4) Italian minesweeper R.D.7. It sank from a landmine on June 15, 1942, southwest of Aegina. Maximum depth 100 meters. Warship.
5) Italian cargo steamer MONROSA. It sank on October 25, 1941, off Anavyssos, by a British submarine. Maximum depth 92 meters.
6) Greek truck steamer PETALLOI. It was sunk by the German air force on April 6, 1941, northeast of Aegina. Maximum depth 76 meters.
7) Italian torpedo boat ALDEBARAN. It sank in a British landmine on October 20, 1941 near the islet of St. George. Maximum depth 102 meters. Warship.
8) German amphibious LOKFÄHRE. It was sunk by allied fire near the island of Arsida, on October 10, 1944. Maximum depth 108 meters. Warship.
9) Italian CURTATONE destroyer. It sank from a mine impact near the Veins, on May 20, 1941. Maximum depth 96 meters. Warship.
10) Greek HYDRA destroyer. It sank near the islet of Lagousa (Aegina), on April 22, 1941. Maximum depth 54 meters. Warship.
11) Greek steamer ROZA VLASSI. It sank from a cargo shift, south of Sounio, on December 24, 1959. Maximum depth 60 meters.
12) Greek lifeguard MIMIS. It sank from a mine impact east of Aegina, on March 29, 1941. Maximum depth 80 meters.
13) AGIOS MARKOS, Salamina. It sank on April 21, 1941, at the site of Kaki Vigla in Salamina. Maximum Depth 45 meters.
14) Italian ALTAIR torpedo boat. It sank from a collision with a British mine on October 20, 1941, near the islet of Patroclus. Maximum depth 130 meters. Warship.
15) Italian aircraft Savoia-Marchetti SM 79 “Sparviero”. It collapsed due to lack of fuel, on August 5, 1944, near Poros. Maximum depth 60 meters. War airplane.
16) German submarine U-133. It sank from a landmine on March 14, 1942, east of Aegina. Maximum depth 74 meters. War submarine.
South Aegean Region (24)
17) Overseas British (HMHS Britannic). The HMHS Britannic sank on 21 November 1916 after hitting a German mine near the island of Kea. Maximum depth 130 meters. It is the largest passenger ship on the sea floor in Greek waters.
18) Overseas S / S Burdigala. It sank on November 14, 1916, about two nautical miles southwest of Cape Agios Nikolaos in Kea, from a landmine impact. Maximum depth 73 meters.
19) Wheeled steamer PATRIS. It sank on February 23, 1868 after hitting a reef in Kountouros of Kea. Maximum depth 55 meters.
20) Destroyer “QUEEN OLGA”. It sank on September 26, 1943 in Lakki, Leros, following an air raid by Luftawafe. Maximum depth 40 meters. Warship.
21) Passenger PANORMITIS, Telendos. It sank on January 26, 1966, traveling from Leros to Kalymnos, after a fire and a collision with the rocks of the coast. Maximum depth 40 meters
22) Cargo ship NW of Cape Korai, Leros. It sank in September 1943, from a torpedo of a German aircraft in Partheni bay, north of Leros. Maximum depth 43 meters.
23) American luggage in Laki, Leros. Your identification details are not known, nor are its sinking conditions. It is of American origin and is apparently part of the Truman doctrine in post-war Greece. It is located at a depth of 40 meters. Warship.
24) Leros, German amphibious type. It sank on November 12, 1943, NE of the rocky islet of Strongyli in Leros after being shot. Maximum depth 20 meters. Warship.
25) Greek cargo steamer ARTEMIS PITA. Commanded by the German occupation army, it was sunk by Allied aircraft on February 21, 1943, in Adamas, Milos. Maximum depth 45 meters.
26) Spanish cargo steamer SAN EDUARDO. It was sunk by a British aircraft on May 9, 1943 southwest of Serifos. Maximum depth 52 meters.
27) Italian cargo steamer CITTA DI TRIPOLI. It sank by the British submarine HMS TORBAY on July 2, 1941, northwest of Kea. Maximum depth 120 meters.
28) French passenger ship THEOPHILE GAUTIER. It sank by the British submarine HMS TALISMAN on June 11, 1941, north of Kea. Maximum depth 110 meters.
29) Greek cargo steamer SIFNOS. It was sunk by the German air force in April 1941, north of Milos. Maximum depth 76 meters.
30) Belgian cargo ship PORTUGAL. It sank, due to a collision, on October 4, 1957, on the Tripiti reef (northwestern Macronissos). Maximum depth 35 meters.
31) Bristol Beaufighter, Paros. It was shot down by German fire in the autumn of 1943 in the southeast of Paros. Maximum depth 40 meters. Warplane.
32) British aircraft Vickers Wellington Mk.XIIII. It was shot down by German fire on November 7, 1943, east of Sifnos. Depth 72 meters. Warplane.
33) Bristol Beaufighter, Naxos. The plane was shot down in November 1943 after an air battle with two German Arado 196. It was anchored half a mile off Cape Kouroupas, on the west coast of Naxos. Depth 34 meters. Warplane.
34) Junkers 52, Leros. It fell from allied fire on November 13, 1943, in Ano Symi of Leros. Maximum depth 51 meters. Warplane.
35) Junkers 52, Kea. Offshore, September 1943, open of Kea. Maximum depth 63 meters. Warplane.
36) Arado Ar 196, Leros. It is located east of Cape Mavros Kavous at a depth of 20 meters and was transported to the point drifted by fishing boat nets. Warplane.
37) Heinkel 111, Leros. It is located sunken NW. of Blefouti Bay, at a depth of 16 meters. He was transported drifted by fishing boat nets. Warplane.
38) Italian barge, Lakki Leros. Italian barge launching metal anti-submarine port protection network. It sank in September or October, 1943. Maximum depth 41 meters.
39) German plane Arrado 196, Heraklion. It was demolished during World War II. It is located in the bay of Alimnia in Heraklion, at a depth of 11 meters.
40) Shipwrecks of unknown elements in Palea Kammeni, Santorini. A 30-meter-long boat, which according to testimonies, sank during World War II. Depth 15 meters.
North Aegean Region (4)
41) Bulgarian cargo steamer BALKAN. It sank by the British submarine HMS SPORTSMAN on December 23, 1943, south of Moudros in Lemnos. Maximum depth 100 meters.
42) British passenger ship PRINCESS ALBERTA. It sank from a collision with a German mine, January 1918, south of Lemnos. Maximum depth 102 meters.
43) Greek passenger steamer ALEXANDROUPOLIS. It sank, due to an accident, on November 30, 1948, near Akra Tigani in Lemnos. Maximum depth 58 meters.
44) Martin Baltimore, Ikaria. It sank and landed, after a mechanical failure, on April 20, 1945, off the village of Magganitis, Ikaria. Maximum depth 18 meters.
Region of Crete (7)
45) Greek cargo steamer SUNDAY. It was sunk by the German air force on April 24, 1941, in Souda, Crete. Maximum depth 85 meters.
46) Beaufighter, Sitia. Maximum depth 35 meters. Warplane
47) Arado Ar 196. It was shot down by Allied aircraft near Chania (Crete) on August 3, 1943. Maximum depth 74 meters. Warplane.
48) Australian Amphitheater A6 or A20, Balos. It sank during the battle of Crete, May 20, 1941. Depth 12 meters.
49) Italian supply ship PIERRE LUIGI, Souda. It was sunk by English planes, during the battle of Crete, on May 20, 1941. Depth 33 meters.
50) German warplane in Gerani, Chania. It was shot down during the Battle of Crete, on May 20, 1941. Depth 8 meters.
51) MINNEWASKA Steamer, Marathi Souda. It sank after being hit by a mine on November 26, 1916.
Region of Central Macedonia (11)
52) British steamship HMT MARQUETTE. It was sunk by a German U-35 submarine on October 23, 1915, in the Thermaic Gulf. Maximum depth 80 meters.
53) Shipwreck of MYTILINI in the bay of Kypsa, Kassandra.
54) ERMINE Passenger. It sank on August 2, 1917, in Strymonikos Gulf. Maximum Depth 63 meters.
55) Steam sailboat M / S ALEXANDROS, Possidi, Halkidiki. It sank on May 24, 1960, off the coast of Halkidiki, near Poseidi. Maximum depth 5 meters.
56) Turkish shipwreck in Kalamitsi, Halkidiki. It sank in the first two decades of the 20th century. Depth 5-18 meters.
57) British minesweeper (probably HMS BY GEORGE). It sank in Strymonikos gulf. Maximum Depth 60 meters.
58) German amphibious Kriegsmarine F 898. It sank in Strymonikos gulf. Maximum depth 47 meters.
59) German Junkers 52 aircraft. It fell into the Strymonikos gulf. Maximum Depth 60 meters.
60) German aircraft Junkers 88 or Dornier 17. It fell into the Strymonikos gulf. Maximum depth 55 meters.
61) British (ocean liner) SS NORSEMAN, Tuzla ends. It ran aground and sank in 1916 (partially lifted). Depth 10-16 meters.
62) HELENA Commercial Truck, Nea Michaniona. The hull and the superstructure of the ship are preserved, at a depth of up to 37m.
Ionian Islands District (7)
63) Italian gunboat PELLEGRINO MATTEUCCI. It sank near the Akra Dukato of Lefkada, from a mine impact, on May 21, 1941. Maximum depth 95 meters. Warship.
64) Perseus Submarine, (HMS Perseus – N36), Cephalonia. It sank on December 6, 1941, after hitting an Italian mine off the coast of Cephalonia. Maximum depth 52 meters. Warship.
65) Junkers Ju 88 in Corfu. Probably due to damage, it was anchored on June 26, 1941, off Agios Stefanos NW Corfu. Maximum depth 26 meters. Warplane.
66) SARA, Othonoi. It sank on February 2, 1925. Maximum depth 35 meters.
67) SS ARDENA, Cephalonia. A passenger steamer sank in the Argostoli Strait on October 23, 1943, after being hit by a mine. Maximum depth 32 meters.
68) Junkers Ju 88, Ithaca. It fell, at the SE end of Ithaca, near the cape of Ag. Ioannis. The shooting incident has not been identified by archival research. However, it dates between the years 1940-1944. It is preserved in three sections separated from each other at depths of 21, 23 and 35 meters.
69) CARINTHIA V, Kefalonia. Yacht that sank in 1971 in the SE part of Kefalonia. Max the depth 64 meters.
Region of Western Greece (9)
70) Greek cargo steamer VIVI. It sank after being hit by a mine on November 10, 1940 near the Pope’s Cape in the Gulf of Patras. Depth 45 meters.
71) Greek cargo steamer DARMA. It was bombed and sunk by the German air force on April 21, 1941 at Bozaitika in the Gulf of Patras. Maximum depth 45 meters.
72) British torpedo boat HMS CHAMOIS. It sank in the Gulf of Patras two nautical miles north of Araxos on September 26, 1904, due to an accident caused during tests by a blade detachment from its propeller. It is located at a depth of 54 meters. Warship.
73) German cargo steamer MARGEURITE. He was sunk by a landmine on October 13, 1943, in the Gulf of Patras. Maximum depth 84 meters.
74) Dutch cargo steamer MARS. It sank from a mine impact on May 30, 1945 in the Gulf of Patras. Maximum depth 45 meters.
75) Greek cargo steamer CHRISTOFOROS. It sank due to weather conditions on January 13, 1921, in the Gulf of Patras. Maximum depth 45 meters.
76) Greek minesweeper NESTOS. It sank in Psathopyrgos on April 23, 1941 by the German air force. Maximum depth 48 meters. Warship.
77) British minesweeper BYMS 2077. He was sunk by a landmine on October 25, 1944, in the Gulf of Patras. Maximum depth 60 meters. Warship.
78) Norwegian cargo steamer SVEN JARL. It sank from a landmine on January 17, 1948, near the mouth of the river Evinos. Maximum depth 42 meters.
Region of Central Greece (7)
79) Motorship “KASSANDRA”, Akio, Platourada. It sank on February 28, 1973, on the island of Platourada or Akio in the South Evoikos after being stranded in the shallows. Maximum depth 28 meters.
80) French steamship PARANA. It sank from a torpedo of the German submarine UC-74, on August 24, 1917, near Kafireas. Maximum depth 75 meters.
81) British steamship HELMSTEDT. It sank on March 22, 1880, southeast of the islet of Mandili in Karystos. Maximum depth 70 meters.
82) Greek steamer KLIO. It sank on January 6, 1904, on the islet of Dipsa, in the South Evoikos, from a collision on the coast.
83) Cement ship PIONEER I, Lichades, Evia. It sank on the 8th, July 1944 near the island of Ag. George Lichadon of Evia. Maximum depth 10 meters.
84) Italian cargo steamer DELFIN. It sank in the southern Evia, by a torpedo of the British submarine HMS TACU, on December 14, 1942. Maximum depth 100 meters.
85) Cement ship, SS CRETELAND, Ag. George of Evia. Cargo steamer (Greek flag) that sank in 1930. Depth 8-13 meters.
Peloponnese Region (2)
86) Greek steamship ATHANASIOS. It was sunk by the German air force, in the gulf of Plytra (Laconian gulf) on April 26, 1941. Maximum depth 28 meters.
87) Unknown merchant ship, Proti, Messinia. It sank in the shallows of the island of Proti Messinia, in the bay of Vouria, in 1942. Maximum depth 5 meters.
Epirus Region (1)
88) British minesweeper H.M.S. REGULUS (J 327). It sank on January 12, 1945 after being hit by a mine in Sivota. Maximum depth 63 meters. Warship.
Thessaly Region (3)
89) Junkers 88, Psathoura of the Northern Sporades. It was anchored, on May 27, 1942, in front of the lighthouse of Psathoura. Maximum depth 32 meters. Warplane.
90) German steamer VOLOS. It sank on the Lefteris (Magnesia) reef by mistake, on February 21, 1931. Maximum depth 57 meters.
91) Slepi CHRISTOS, Pteleos, Magnesia. Remains of a small truck that sank during FP2. Maximum depth 22 meters.
See the full list here (link in Greek): LIST
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