Elba & the Tuscan Archipelago · Italy · Wreck
Relitto di Pomonte (Elviscot)
A 62 m freighter on her side in 2–12 m, swum to from Pomonte beach
Area photo: CTHOE · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Elviscot was a 62 m timber freighter that hit the rocks of the Scoglio dell'Ogliera off Pomonte on 10 January 1972 and now lies on her starboard side on sand in 2 to 12 m, a few tens of metres from the beach. Divers swim out from the shore, tour the hull and enter the bridge and stern corridors; the shallow depth makes it an easy first wreck as long as the state of the plating is respected.
Also known as Elviscot, Relitto dell'Elviscot.
Where it is and how deep
42.7436° N, 10.1189° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
You walk in from the beach at Pomonte and swim out a few tens of metres to the Scoglio dell'Ogliera, where the Elviscot lies on her starboard side on the sandy bottom on the east side of the rock. The top of the wreck is in only 2 to 3 m of water, reaching within a few metres of the surface, and the deepest point is around 12 m at the stern. Descend onto the hull and take the outside first: the little freighter is completely covered in marine growth, and the fish around her are abundant, with small schools of saddled bream and two-banded bream.
The interior is the point of the dive. The bridge is easy to visit through the large opening in its upper side. From the funnel a passage leads straight down into the engine room, where the engine is still recognisable, but the source recommends this only for the most experienced. At the stern, two wide openings let you go up along a corridor to the wheelhouse, with daylight coming in through the slits and portholes. Keep an eye on the twisted plating of the bow side, where moray and conger eels hold in the narrow spaces.
The dive is not difficult given the shallow depth, but the wreck is in a precarious state and the sources are clear that it should not be underestimated. Stay outside the confined spaces unless you are trained and guided, watch for sharp and loose metal, and finish by working back over the hull towards the beach with a slow ascent, which at this depth is almost the whole dive.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Elviscot
- Type
- Timber-carrying merchant freighter
- Length
- 62.25 m (204 ft)
- Built
- 1960
- Sunk
- 1972
- Cause
- Ran onto the rocks in bad weather and poor visibility on passage from Naples to Marseille
- Lies
- On her starboard side on the sandy bottom on the east side of the Scoglio dell'Ogliera, stern towards open sea; 2–3 m at the top to about 12 m at the stern
The Elviscot was a small merchant ship of 62.25 m and 499 gross tons, built in 1960 by Scheepswerven Gebr. Van Diepen at Waterhuizen in the Netherlands and used to carry timber. On 10 January 1972, sailing from Naples for Marseille, she hit the rocks off Pomonte in bad weather and poor visibility. The wreck became a dive destination, and the underwater photographer Claudio Ziraldo won first prize at the Nikon world contest with a photograph of the little cargo ship.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Elba & the Tuscan Archipelago: The season runs May–September with a warm October; the sea bottoms out near 14 °C in February–March, spring and autumn winds push boats to sheltered sites, and Pianosa's buoys open April–November.
Know before you go
- The hull is in a precarious state, with twisted plating at the bow: do not enter unless trained for overhead environments and diving with a guide.
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Elviscot wreck at Pomonte?+
The top of the wreck is in 2 to 3 m and the deepest point is about 12 m at the stern, so it is within Open Water limits and can be seen from the surface.
Can you dive the Elviscot from the shore?+
Yes. The wreck lies a few tens of metres off Pomonte beach beside the Scoglio dell'Ogliera and is reached by swimming out from the shore.
Sources
- Elviscot — Wikipedia (it)
- Relitto di Pomonte — Scubago
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