Cape Greco & Ayia Napa · Cyprus · Wreck · Artificial reef
Liberty Wreck
Three connected holds on an upright cargo ship at 18 to 28 m
Area photo: Fry72, Karel Frydrýšek · CC BY-SA 4.0
A former Russian cargo ship sunk off Protaras in 2009 as the first wreck of an artificial reef, now inside the Protaras Marine Protected Area. She sits upright between 18 and 28 m, 1 km from shore, with three connected holds open to divers, and groupers, moray eels and seasonal schools of jacks live around her.
Also known as MV Liberty, Liberty Wreck, Cyprus.
Where it is and how deep
35.0498° N, 34.0366° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The Liberty lies 1 km off Protaras, less than 5 minutes by boat from Paralimni harbour, and sits upright on the seabed between 18 and 28 m. The ship was stripped down to the hull before she was sunk, and the small bridge at the stern can also be dived.
Two openings in the deck lead inside, and all three holds are diveable and connected to each other, each with at least one exit back to the deck, and the cargo loading hatch is an exit. Groupers and moray eels live on the wreck, and large numbers of jacks pass through seasonally. The Nemesis III lies just 90 m away, close enough to visit both wrecks on one scooter dive.
The wreck
- Vessel
- MV Liberty
- Type
- Russian cargo ship
- Length
- 37 m (121 ft)
- Sunk
- 2009
- Cause
- Scuttled by the Paralimni Municipality as an artificial reef
- Lies
- Upright between 18 and 28 m, 90 m from the Nemesis III
Liberty was a Russian cargo ship due to be scrapped. Instead, in May 2009, the Paralimni Municipality sank her off the southern coast of Cyprus as the first wreck of the Liberty Reef Artificial Project, funded by the Cyprus Dive Center Association to promote diving. The area was then closed to boat traffic and made a marine fish reserve, now the Protaras Marine Protected Area, and the Nemesis III joined her in 2013.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
- Trevally & jacks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Cape Greco & Ayia Napa: Diving is possible year-round; May to October brings the warmest water and greater marine-life abundance.
Know before you go
- The holds are an overhead environment; each has at least one exit to the deck, and divers enter only within their training.
- The wreck reaches 28 m, deeper than Open Water limits; Advanced Open Water certification is required.
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Liberty wreck in Protaras?+
The Liberty sits upright between 18 and 28 m, 1 km off Protaras. Advanced Open Water or Boat Diver certification is required.
How is the Liberty wreck reached?+
By boat from Paralimni harbour. The wreck lies 1 km from shore and the ride takes less than 5 minutes.
Sources
- Liberty Shipwreck — Visit Cyprus
- MV Liberty — Wikipedia
- Liberty Wreck, Cyprus — Scubago
- Dive sites — Sirens Dive Centre
- Wrecks: Herbies Diving Paradise — Herbie's Diving Paradise
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