Zenobia Ban has been removed!!!!

UPDATE: on March the 2nd Larnaca port authority has declared that the ban that they wanted to Put on diving the Zenobia and other dive site within Larnaca Port Area has been removed.

"Following pressure from diving and other bodies connected with tourism, a meeting was convened for today in Nicosia, to include the Cyprus Ports Authority, Cyprus Dive Center Association (CDCA),Cyprus Tourist Organisation, Coastal Passenger Boats Union, Marine Police and Department of Search and Rescue."

For all buddies!!! Happy Zenobia Diving :)
=======================================================================

The 178 Meters Ro-Ro vessel that has sunk near Larnaca harbor in 1980 , the Zenobia. Was considered the best diving site in Cyprus.(you can check the post dedicated to the Zenobia HERE).
why am i using the past tense?? Because larnaca port authorities have banned the dive on the Zenobia.
What is the problem?

 According to larnaca port authority general director "Yiannakis Kokkinos" said that the family of a woman who died while diving in 2010 considered legal action against port authorities.
Catherine Vicar "33" was found unconscious in the engine room of the Zenobia shipwreck in October 2010. She had Separated from her group and ran out of Air while underwater.
The result is that the Port of Larnaca Authority has decided to ban diving in port waters for "Legal Reasons" - and the port waters include the wreck of the Zenobia.

What are the port authority of Larnaca Saying???
the head of port authorities, Chryssis Prentzas said they had no choice but to ban diving in port water.
"Until those interested get the necessary licences, port authorities will not allow diving" Prentzas said
"It is the Cyprus Port Authorities (CPA) social obligation to ensure all members of the public who do this will do so withing the context of health and safety" Prentzas said.
CPA have evoked legislation dating back to 1973 and says that anyone swimming or diving anywhere that falls within its jurisdiction (3 nautical miles) needs a license.

Solution???

Now it is not clear how licenses will be given, nor if their will be any change on the legislation...

The Tourism Development and Promotion of Larnaca Association, Larnaca Municipality and CDCA and other involved parties have asked the port authorities to lift the ban, at least until the options has been discussed.

Until the mess gets sorted out , diving the Zenobia is from the Past... 

MS ZENOBIA

Check out our Post on the Recent Ban on Diving the Zenobia Here

MS Zenobia, is a Roll On Roll Out vessel (RORO) vessel that was carrying cargo from Sweeden to Syria, she never reached her final destination as a computer problem with the ballast system caused her to list, although an SOS message has been sent but the help has been delayed and the ship now lie on the sandy sea floor at a depth of 42 meters (138 feet) 1,5 Km offshore of Larnaca, Cyprus.

The Common name , known by divers is ZEN , MS Zenobia is listed among the top 25 Wreck dive around the world.

No matter if you are OW, advanced or technical diver Zenobia provides you with an ultimate diving experience with a depth varying from 18 meters (60 feet) to reach the bottom at 42 meters (138 feet).

 Diving outside the wreck their is plenty to see, the trucs that Zenobia used to carry are now scattered at depth varying from 25 meters (82 feet) to 42 meters (148 feet), and still 2 trucks are hanging on chains to the deck.

the propeller can be found at the stern of the wreck one at 28 meters (92 feet) and the other at 38 meters (125 feet).
 The cantene and the bridge are found on around 27 meters (122 feet) and are a nice dive with little penetration for all levels divers.
For advanced divers more advanced penetration can be done to the main lorry deck, which runs 72 meters (236 feet) and allows the divers to watch the truck wrecks that are located in the deck.
The technical divers their is another deck that runs 172 meters (565 feet) the long of the Ship , and there you can see Cars and JCB, you can also see the engine room.

 
Accessible to all divers and with plenty of historical value and variety of sea creature... no wonder why this wreck is on of the world best dive sites...