Sure scuba diving sounds cool, but it’s 2019 and we’re all up for taking it a notch higher. This list of best wreck dives around the world will help your purpose. By Shubhanjana Das
When scuba diving to find ship wrecks at the bottom of the ocean, you can be sure to spot some old ships which bear significant history to their name but weren’t as fortunate so as to survive the wreck. Yes, the Titanic is on that list too! They now make for the real treasures under the sea and are habitat for some of the most unique underwater life. The following are the best wreck dives around the world for the ultimate adventure of the year.
1. USS Oriskany, Florida
After serving the US armed forces since 1945 and being active in all armed conflicts between then and the final decommissioning in 1976, the magnificent beauty, Oriskany was purposefully sunk in 2006 to make an artificial reef off the coast of Florida. A former aircraft carrier, Oriskany’s USP can be described as magnanimous with a size of 880 foot in length and weight more than a whopping 30,000 tons. The ship was emptied of any hazards to the environment or the divers, and is now a delight for professional divers who are allowed to venture into the deeper sections of the vessel.
2. MS Zenobia, Cyprus
With a longer history under water than above, MS Zenobia in Cyprus is a 178 metre Swedish ferry, which saw the light of the day last in 1980 outside Lacarna, Cyprus, a few kilometres short of completing her journey. The crew was safely evacuated but the ship took down with her 200 million pounds worth of cargo due to technical problems. It is now a thriving ground for a mesmerising variety of multitude 42 metres below the surface. It makes for a phenomenal dive with options for divers with all levels of certifications.
3. RMS Titanic, North Atlantic Ocean
While the history of how this magnificent beauty met its fate is known to the world, only a handful get to witness it in its present state. In April 1912, while making her journey from Southampton to New York City, she famously sunk after hitting an iceberg and now lies on the bed of the North Atlantic, split into two, 600 metres apart. Explorers were allowed eight-day trips to the wreck starting May 2018, which is open to only nine guests at a time, who are flown by a helicopter to the support yacht from St John’s, Newfoundland.
4. SS Yongala, Australia
Yongala lies in the world heritage site of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park after it sank in 1911 off the coast of Queensland due to a cyclone. Its 110 metre length is now populated by manta rays, sea snakes, octopuses, turtles, bull sharks, tiger sharks, clouds of fish and beautiful coral. However, in 1981 the Yongala was given official protection under the Historic Shipwrecks Act, which is to say that divers are not allowed into the wreck.
Related: Dive Of A Lifetime: You Can Swim Between Two Continents At Silfra Rift!
