Diving Kyrenia & the Northern Coast | Wrecks, Walls & Ancient Harbour

About Kyrenia (Girne) & Northern Coast (North Cyprus)

The Kyrenia coast, known in Turkish as Girne, forms the mountainous northern shore of Cyprus beneath the dramatic Kyrenia (Besparmak) range. It is the heart of diving in North Cyprus, offering a mix of purpose-sunk wrecks, a dramatic volcanic-limestone wall and genuinely historic underwater archaeology. The Power Station Wreck and the Fred Wreck provide accessible artificial-reef dives draped in coral and sponge, while the Ancient Kyrenia Harbour Wall lets divers swim among submerged Hellenistic and Roman stone blocks and pottery. The St. Hilarion Wall plunges into deep blue water alive with gorgonians and amberjacks, and the rare summer blue shark, while Zephyros Reef, the little Gulet Wreck and the Akdeniz Wreck round out a varied menu. Ashore, Kyrenia’s Venetian harbour, crusader castle and hillside villages make a captivating base, and the region’s lower visitor numbers give it an unhurried, exploratory feel.

Highlights

• ✓Power Station Wreck (Karaoğlanoğlu): a 70 m cargo ship upright in 18-28 m, penetrable
• ✓Fred Wreck: a 65 m patrol boat reef with resident groupers and batfish
• ✓St. Hilarion Wall (Kyrenia): a deep volcanic-limestone wall with gorgonians and amberjacks
• ✓Ancient Kyrenia Harbour Wall: submerged Hellenistic-Roman blocks and pottery
• ✓Gulet Wreck & Akdeniz Wreck: small, encrusted wrecks rich in macro life

Getting There

Fly into Ercan (ERC) via Turkey or cross the Green Line from the Republic, then drive to Kyrenia. A rental car is the most flexible way to reach the harbours and dive boats, and most centres run hotel transfers.