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Diving in Paphos

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– Manidjin Isle 
Between Lara and Paphos and opposite the fishing harbour of St. George, lies Yeronisos Island, better known to divers as Manidjin Isle.
The dive takes you to a depth of between 10 and 15 metres and reachable both by land and boat.
Vertical cliff faces, large holes spread out across shallow planes, tunnels and openings, a chimney leading all the way back up to the surface and spacious caverns with several entrances and exits make this dive quite unique. This conservation area is populated with varieties of cuttlefish, shoals of barracudas and breams

– Amphitheatre diving site 
Open water (OW) qualification required. Access is from the shore just past the headland at Coral Bay, a short walk down the rocks.
This is a particularly popular dive, ranging from 4 metres to some 12 metres.
It takes its name from the natural formation resembling an amphitheatre that was cut out of the rock by sea currents.
Besides the magnificent rock formations, there is an abundance of marine life to admire, including groupers, eels and cuttlefish.

– Amphorae Caves diving site 
Open water (OW) qualification required. There are a number of caves, including one with an amphorae encrusted roof, and gullies to explore at a depth of five to 12 metres.

– Devils Head diving site 
Open water qualification required. Access is by boat.
Located off the northwest coast of Paphos in the Akamas area, this dive combines caves and interconnecting tunnels at a depth of some 11 metres.
The really lucky divers may spot green and leatherback turtles during the turtle season. There is plenty of marine life to admire round the rock formation.

– The Vera K Wreck diving site
Open water qualification; (OW) required. Access is by boat some 25 minutes from Paphos harbour.
This Lebanese freighter ran aground in shallow water in 1972 and was initially used as target practice by the army.
But it was later declared a hazard to other ships and blown up in 1974. It now rests in a crater created by the explosion, 11 metres underwater.
Very close are two large archways and narrow tunnels suitable for experienced divers. There is also plenty of marine life to observe.

– Wreck of the White Star diving site 
Open water (OW) qualification required. This former Russian fishing vessel sank at sea, close to Paphos harbour in 2006 as she was being towed to Limassol to be completely scrapped.
She now lies on a rocky bottom, 14 to 18 metres underwater and is home to groupers, breams and other fish.

– Laboe Wreck
Laboe was built in Rendburg shipyard, Germany in 1940. It was a cruise vessel and was brought to Cyprus in 2006 by a private company.
Its length is 21.5 metres and breadth 5 metres.
The project for the deployment of the vessel “Laboe” near Moulia area in Yeroskipou/ Paphos was co-funded by the Government of Cyprus and the European Union, European Fisheries Fund 2007-2013: Sustainable Development of Fishing Sector.
The vessel was donated to the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research by the Cyprus Tourist Organisation and the Cyprus Dive Centres Association.

 

DIVING IN AKAMAS
– St. George Drop-off
It’s quite a challenge to find more beautiful cliff faces than those at St. George Drop Off. The island of Ayios Georgios lies east of the Akamas peninsula and hosts a reserve for birds and maritime life. Huge sponges, shimmering overgrown cliffs and secretive octopuses, cuttlefish, hermit crabs and many other creatures makes this dive quite a highlight.

– St. George Reef
Opposite the island of Ayios Georgios, directly beneath the towering cliffs of the Akamas peninsula a shallow diving spot sprawls, littered with colourful overhangs, cavernous archways, rock formations as well as elongated openings and canyons. Nature has all but claimed back the countless pieces of shattered amphora. A diverse playground for any diver.

– Nissi Koppos
This remote spot around the island of Koppos, west of the Akamas peninsula, is something of an insider’s tip, especially since it is best explored in the early hours of the morning, when you might catch a glimpse of the Mediterranean monk seal. The rocky island is surrounded by several tiers of planes, which at intervals are laced with large holes that open into bottle-like basins, while button polyps and sponges have happily taken over the walls of tunnels, overhangs and crevices. The “washing machine” awards a unique experience: divers are sucked into the flush of air-bubbles
created by the waves and expelled a few metres further on.

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