Diving at the Wreck of Byron

Kaloi Limenes is a unique spot on the southern coast of Heraklion, beloved by fishermen and those who want to immerse themselves in the deep blue sea. Here, you’ll also find a shipwreck with quite a story: the BYRON I was a cargo ship carrying sugar. 

On January 17, 1985, at around 11:30 a.m., Crete was struck by an unprecedented storm with powerful winds, heavy rain, floods, and broken communication lines. The BYRON I ran aground in the shallows. For unknown reasons, the distress signal sent out never reached Heraklion’s Port Authority. It was picked up instead by the Operations Center of the Ministry of Merchant Shipping, which dispatched a rescue helicopter to the scene.

As the BYRON I split in two and turned the salty sea sweet with its sugar cargo, the crew managed to safely abandon the ship and were rescued.

Photo credit: Incrediblecrete