Isles of Scilly · United Kingdom · Wreck
Cita
A 1997 cargo ship split in two, bow and stern dived separately
Area photo: Jerome Paillet (IFREMER, Laboratoire d'Océanographie Physique et Spatiale, Centre Bretagne - ZI de la Pointe du Diable - · CC BY 4.0
The Cita is a modern cargo ship that hit Newfoundland Point on St Mary's in March 1997 and broke in two. The two halves make different dives: the bow sits between 8 m and 27 m and suits photographers, while the deeper stern towers above the seabed.
Also known as MV Cita.
Where it is and how deep
49.9131° N, 6.2804° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The ship lies in two parts, close together but separated by a large pinnacle that rises to about 8 m. The bow sits between 8 m and 27 m with much of its structure intact: divers can swim under the hull and look over the winches and ropes. The stern lies between 15 m and 40 m and towers above the seabed with its railings and doors still in place, so divers can look inside the compartments, though the depth keeps the dive short. The rock between the two is covered in life and is a good place to finish a dive.
The wreck
- Vessel
- MV Cita
- Type
- Cargo ship
- Length
- 91 m (299 ft)
- Sunk
- 1997
- Cause
- Pierced her hull running aground on Newfoundland Point in gale-force winds, en route from Southampton to Belfast.
- Lies
- Split in two off St Mary's: bow at 8–27 m, stern at 15–40 m.
On 26 March 1997, just after 3 am, the 91 m (300 ft) Antiguan-registered merchant vessel Cita ran aground on Newfoundland Point, St Mary’s, in gale-force winds while on passage from Southampton to Belfast. The rocks pierced her hull. The German-owned ship stayed above the surface for several days before sliding off the ledge into deeper water, splitting in two as she sank.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Off-season | Off-season |
Season follows Isles of Scilly: Weather keeps the season short: most charters run from May to September, and a summer storm can still interrupt a trip.
Dive videos
Diving the wreck of the Cita - Isles of Scilly · Dory Video on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Which part of the Cita suits a less experienced diver?+
The bow, which sits between 8 m and 27 m. The stern lies between 15 m and 40 m and is best left to advanced divers.
Sources
- Diving the Isles of Scilly: Wrecks, Reefs, and Seal Encounters — Divernet
- MV Cita — Wikipedia
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