Paros & Naxos · Greece · Wreck · Wall
Mariana
A 1981 cargo wreck whose crane still breaks the surface; the bow section rests at 24 m
Area photo: kallerna · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Mariana is a 91 m cargo ship that sailed from the Red Sea for Piraeus on 24 July 1981 and struck the Amaras reef between Naxos and Paros; she now lies broken against it, the crane still half a metre above the surface and the forward section on the bottom at 24 m. The dive follows the reef wall down to about 15 m, crosses 30 m of sand to the wreck and works it from the stern up, through growth thick with nudibranchs and worms.
Also known as Marianna, Niels Maersk, Atlas River.
Where it is and how deep
37.0445° N, 25.3532° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive boat anchors close to the reef. You start along the reef wall, descending slowly to about 15 m, then from the tip of the reef cross about 30 m of sandy bottom to the open facade of the wreck. Begin at the deepest point, the stern. The operator gives a maximum of 23 m and 40 minutes of bottom time; the forward piece of the ship lies at 24 m, so almost everything is between 15 and 24 m.
Work forward and up. The remaining part of the ship is 35 m long and 15 m wide, and it has turned into an artificial reef: coral growth covers the plates, and nudibranchs and worms are everywhere in the growth, giving the metal its colour. The ship's crane still stands half a metre above the surface. Visibility is listed at 20 m and the average water temperature at 21 °C.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Mariana (ex-Niels Maersk, ex-Atlas River)
- Type
- Cargo ship, 3,000 gt
- Length
- 91 m (299 ft)
- Built
- 1961
- Sunk
- 1981
- Cause
- Struck the Amaras reef between Naxos and Paros in 1981, after sailing from the Red Sea on 24 July; all crew rescued
- Lies
- In two parts against the reef: forward section at 24 m, crane half a metre above the surface
Manufactured at Dutch shipyards, dated 23 February 1961, as the Niels Maersk, the ship was renamed Atlas River in 1976 and bought by Greek owners in 1980, who renamed her Marianna. On 24 July 1981 she sailed from the Red Sea for Piraeus carrying 41,000 bags of barley, water supply pipes, pesticides and stainless metal sheets, and struck the reef called Amaras between Naxos and Paros. The crew were taken off by another ship, the Panagia Mirtidiotissa, and landed safely at Saint Anna's port on Naxos. The forward section settled at 24 m and has since become an artificial reef.
Marine life and season
- Nudibranchs
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Prime | Good | Good | Prime | Good | Off-season | Off-season |
Season follows Paros & Naxos: The Naxos centre opens mid-April to early November. The meltemi blows mid-May to mid-September, most constant in July and August, when boats keep to moorings sheltered from the north wind.
Know before you go
- Crossing about 30 m of open sand from the reef to the wreck: keep the group together and follow the guide's heading.
- The stern is the deepest point of the wreck: start there and work shallower to keep the profile simple.
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Mariana wreck?+
The Naxos operator lists 23 m as the maximum; the forward section rests at 24 m, and the dive starts along the reef wall at about 15 m.
How did the Mariana sink?+
She sailed from the Red Sea for Piraeus on 24 July 1981 with barley, pipes, pesticides and metal sheets and struck the Amaras reef between Naxos and Paros. All crew were rescued.
Can Open Water divers dive the Mariana?+
Yes: the operator asks for Open Water with at least 20 logged dives, since the deepest part of the wreck is 23 to 24 m.
Sources
- Mariana (Wreck) — Scubago
- Wreck of cargo ship "Marianna" — Blue Fin Divers
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