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This 170-m (555-ft) Swedish truck ferry went down off the coast at Larnaca in 1980 on her maiden voyage (no lives were lost) and lies 43 m (140 ft) underwater. Today it is considered the best dive in the Mediterranean and many claim that it is also one of the best in the world. More than 100 cargo lorries can all be seen, fully intact, and the wreck offers good diving opportunities at all levels. Abundant marine life can be seen around the wreck, including grouper, tuna, conger eels and barracuda. More advanced divers can also descend deeper to explore other interesting parts of the vessel’s interior, such as the engine room.

Sunk during World War II, part of this Lebanese freighter’s hull lies in only 8 m (26 ft) of water, near the Moulia Rocks just offshore from Geroskipou Beach. It is surrounded by shell casings and amphorae and the wreck attracts plenty of fish. An excellent dive for beginners.

Just offshore in 8 m (26 ft) of water off the northwest coast and within the Akamas Marine Reserve, the slopes of this rocky islet abound in marine life, including moray and grouper. You can descend to 35 m (115 ft) to explore the underwater caves. Sheltered from westerly winds, St George’s is a good alternative when the west coast sites are not diveable because of high seas or poor visibility.

The Mismaloya Reef abounds in shoals of bass and bream, as well as larger pelagic species. One of the remoter dive sites from Pafos, it takes longer to reach and is more suitable for experienced divers and those who don’t mind spending some time at sea.

For experienced divers, these shallows, some 35 km (22 miles) offshore in the Pafos area, are a great place to see large pelagics such as tuna and jack, as well as octopus and moray. The site consists of a vast underwater cliff, with caves, pinnacles and a tunnel and dives offer drop-offs from the 20-m (65-ft) to 60-m (195-ft) levels. Like Mismaloya, this dive site takes longer to get to than most Cyprus dives. An unmissable experience as long as you have the qualifications.

This is an excellent beginner’s dive, in only 6 m (19 ft) of water. The Ektimon itself, a Greek freighter which ran aground in 1971, has almost disintegrated, but its propellers still mark the spot.

Mystery surrounds the wrecking of the Achilleas, which blew up not far from the shore and sank in 1975 in 11 m (36 ft) of water. The wreck is in three sections, at varying depths, and is infested by silvery hordes of smaller sea denizens. Grouper and even a moray or two can also be seen around the ship from time to time.

This is a fascinating offshore cave dive – the clay wine-jar embedded in the roof of one of the caves seems to imply, according to archaeologists, that they were once above the waterline and have been drowned over the centuries by seismic movement. Beautiful coral abounds here. Maximum descent is 10 m (30 ft).

This dive involves a plunge into a long, narrow gulley with a profusion of sponges, anemones, soft corals and lots of smaller marine life in depths of 25–30 m (82–98 ft). It is a relatively easy dive, and therefore suitable for beginners, but still offers a spectacular introduction to the underwater world of Cypriot seas.

This is a shallow dive set around large offshore boulders. Surrounding these rocks the sea bed attracts huge shoals of smaller fish, as well as the occasional octopus or larger fish such as grouper and barracuda.