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Vlora, Karaburun & Sazan · Albania · Wreck

Intrepido Wreck

A First World War Italian destroyer lost to a U-boat's mine

The Intrepido Wreck is the hull of an Italian Indomito-class destroyer that struck a sea mine laid by the German submarine UC-14 on 4 December 1915. Stripped of its armament and abandoned, the hull later slid into deeper water and now lies at 32 m, a First World War wreck for advanced divers.

Also known as Intrepido, Italian destroyer Intrepido.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Intrepido Wreck: typical dive to 32 m (to 105 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit32 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

No published position for this site — the map shows Vlora, Karaburun & Sazan and its other sites; operators know the mooring.

The dive

The 73 m destroyer's remaining hull rests at 32 m, where it slid after the ship was abandoned a few days after the mine strike. Current at the wreck is absent or weak. The armament and other materials were removed before the hull was abandoned.

The wreck

Vessel
Intrepido
Type
Indomito-class destroyer
Length
73 m (240 ft)
Built
1912
Sunk
1915
Cause
Struck a sea mine laid by the German submarine UC-14
Lies
Hull slid into deeper water after the sinking and rests at 32 m

Intrepido was launched on 7 August 1912 and commissioned on 6 February 1913. On 4 December 1915 she struck a sea mine laid by the German submarine UC-14. The damage was not significant and she could have been towed to Vlora, but the military authorities decided instead to dispose of her armament and other materials. A few days later she was abandoned, and the remaining hull slid into the water to its present depth.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Intrepido Wreck
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodGood

Season follows Vlora, Karaburun & Sazan: Trips run all year, to Sazan as well as the peninsula; the sea is warmest from July to September and coolest in February.

Questions divers ask

What certification does the Intrepido wreck need?+

Advanced Open Water. The hull lies at 32 m, deeper than the Open Water limit, though current there is absent or weak.

Sources

  1. Intrepido Wreck – Silver Sky Diving — Silver Sky Diving
  2. Italian destroyer Intrepido (1912) – Wikipedia — Wikipedia

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