Diving the Zenobia, Cyprus
Dive two (the plan)
As on our first dive, we will kit up for Zenobia dive two onboard the catamaran, the Queen Zenobia. And giant stride into the water, descending the shot line at the front of the catamaran.
On the second dive, we visit the Bow of the Zenobia, so once we are settled, we drop over the side of the wreck and scuba in the opposite direction to dive one.
Our first stop is the Bridge. It spans the width of the Zenobia from 20 metres to
38metres, but we will maintain a depth of around 25-28 metres. We enter the bridge
through an old window, where all glass has been removed and you can see the old panelling
and circuitry from the Zenobia’s bridge.
Exiting Zenobia’s bridge through another window on the other side, we head towards the bow to look at the ship’s anchor. On the way, keep your eyes peeled for old gauges and grouper and barracuda swimming among the Zenobia’s wreckage.
The anchor is huge and, of course surrounded with all the winches and other mechanisms needed by the Zenobia when she was still afloat.
Turning around now, we make our way back towards the mooring lines, with a brief visit to the Zenobia’s canteen, which we enter through an open door. You will see bits of carpet still on the floor and the drinks machine is still clearly visible on the bar area. Investigating a little deeper, you will see the entrance to the accommodation block and a sink in front of you and a even a toilet if you turn and look up over your left shoulder.
We exit the Canteen through a window in the ceiling above us (although when the right way round, this is actually the side of the Zenobia) and continue to make our way back toward the mooring lines.
There are many windows, with the glass removed, so that as we make our way past, you can look into the accommodation block from the safety of the outside of the wreck. Lots of the partitions, walls and beams have collapsed in this area so we do not recommend swimming through this without extensive wreck diving training and experience.
Before reaching the line, you will also see the unused lifeboats still attached to the Zenobia and waiting to be used.
Finally, we reach the mooring lines and begin our ascent. Again we ascend from the Zenobia very slowly and complete a minute safety stop at 9 metres and a 5 minute safety stop at 5 metres.
To finish the day we have a bbq lunch on the Queen Zenobia.
