HMS Perseus (N36)
Perhaps the top WW II wreck dive in Mediterranean, British Overseas Patrol submarine HMS/M Perseus, (N36) lies virtually intact on the sandy bottom, at 52 meters depth, about a mile off the south coast of Kefalonia.
Perseus submarine is not only among the most impressive wreck dives a diver can experience, but has an amazing history as well. The vessel was on combat patrol in December 1941, and while cruising at the surface at night hit an Italian naval mine and sunk. From the crew of 59 only one, the Royal Navy leading stoker John Capes managed a daredevil escape from a depth no one has attempted before, swam his way to Katelios and with the aid of locals escaped capture from Italian and German occupation forces and finally transferred in Turkey. While legendary in Royal Navy, almost nobody believed his adventure until in 1997 a team of Greek divers located the submarine and verified details of his described escape.
The divers approaching the submarine encounter a magnificent vessel 88 meters long, with a large conning tower, the ship’s gun and the rear hutch still open indicating the escape route of John Capes, while a look in the interior is possible. Among other things, the torpedo tubes and the ship’s propellers and rudder are visible.
The submarine is practically an artificial reef and colorful sponges, big groupers, small fish and aquatic creatures take shelter here, while predators like amberjacks and snappers are frequent visitors.
Dive starts at the shot line that leads close to the conning tower and at around 25m depth the submarine is already visible. Leaving the shot line at around 35 m, and heading towards the bow, swimming at the side of the vessel and at a depth of 45 m, divers can see the devastating blow of the mine at port side and then the bow torpedo tubes, where at a depth of 48 m, Mark VIII torpedoes are ready to fire in their open tubes. On the way back towards the aft, divers overfly the wreck at around 44 m, observing hatches, winches and looking for groupers hiding within openings of the vessel, eventually reach the 4,9” gun and then the conning tower with the main hatch, periscopes and antenna. Further towards the aft, there is the still open escape hatch, that allows a look to the interior and the items inside, such as crates, machinery and even boots of the crew. Divers reaching the aft can see at a close distance the concrete anchorage of the sea mine and even descend bellow 45 m for a closer look to the rudders and propellers, where massive groupers, snappers and lobsters can also be found. The dive comes to an end heading smoothly towards the conning tower, where amberjacks usually prey on the schools of damselfish, to find the shot line and initiate the ascend and decompression stops.
The average depth or the dive is 40 m, while the max is 50, reserving the submarine for experienced and technical divers. The visibility is usually greater than 25m while temperature ranges between 18-24 C in summer months, depending on depth. Occasionally there may be strong currents close to the surface. Boat ride duration 15′.
Scuba Diving Kefalonia, Scuba Kefalonia
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