According to the Company's monthly magazine, "the new Larnaca Virtual Diving Routes application offers an interactive, digital way to experience some of Larnaca's most popular dive sites, which are ideal for divers preparing for an expedition" or for people who want to get a glimpse of the world beneath the waves. The aim, it says, is to attract specialised tourism to Larnaca and beyond.
It adds that the project is part of the Virtual Larnaca project, which is a series of innovative ways to redesign the city's tourist attractions, including virtual tours of museums in the city and the province. The "Larnaca Virtual Diving Tours" virtually map the dive sites to present their locations in a 3D format, with navigation and viewing from all angles.
It also includes navigation through underwater footage of various dive sites, suggested dive routes and other useful, practical information and statistics.
It is noted that "the aim of the virtual dive itineraries on the island is twofold, on the one hand to allow prospective divers to plan their dives in advance and on the other hand to allow non-divers to explore and experience the highlights of each dive".
The Larnaca 3D virtual diving tours were carried out in collaboration with diving schools and the CMMI and Cyens Centres of Excellence, with the support of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.
The dive sites included in the "Routes" are the wreck "Zenobia", a Swedish ferry that was 173 meters long, 23 wide and 13 high, was technologically equipped with the best navigation systems, with a crew of 140 people, ranked among the top wrecks in the world, included in the five most important dive sites in the world and named the "Titanic" of the Mediterranean.
The ship, built in 1979, began its maiden voyage on 22 May 1980 from Malmö, Sweden, bound for Tartus, Syria, carrying, among other things, 108 trucks, foodstuffs, various goods and one million eggs. After experiencing problems, the ship finally sank off Larnaca at 2.30 a.m. on 7 June 1980, at a depth of 42 metres, with all its cargo worth over £200 million.
The "Virtual Diving Routes" also include the wreck "Elpida", a ship sunk in 2019 to create Larnaca's first artificial reef, and the wreck LEF1, a ship also sunk in 2019, forming part of Larnaca's first artificial reef and the first snorkelling reef on the island.
Still included in the Routes are "Dorida", a natural, circular reef in the marine protected area of Voroklini and "Skopia" which is an area of natural rock formations in the Xylofagou area.
It is noted that "Diving Routes", in addition to the 3D images, include videos of the wreck sites, a detailed description for each dive site, important information such as distance from land, dive level, water temperature and depth, as well as information about the marine species that can be found at these sites".
The ETAP monthly magazine also states that "this platform joins other means of promoting diving, such as the "Larnaka Underwater Worlds" video, alongside ongoing efforts to enrich the region's diving product through the creation of artificial reefs and the strict preservation of Marine Protected Areas."
Source: CNA
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