Olympia Wreck (Formigas, nature reserve)
Nature reserve – protected area with regulated access. The Olympia is a Greek cargo ship that ran aground at the Formigas on 16 June 1921 (the crew survived); the wreck lies at 30–50 m on the south-west side of the islets. Remote, exposed and current-swept, recommended only for experienced divers. The position is only a rough point beside the islets. The position is approximate (the official guide publishes no coordinates) and is for orientation only.
Facts
- Region: Azores – East (São Miguel, Santa Maria, Formigas)
- Area: Formigas & Dollabarat (nature reserve)
- Depth: 30–50 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: strong
- Type: wreck
- Coordinates: 37.2685, -24.7845 (approximate)
- Highlights: Greek cargo ship lost 1921, 30–50 m, remote offshore wreck
- Permit: Nature reserve (since 1988, Regional Reserve since 2003; Ramsar site; part of the Azores Marine Park). Fishing, collecting and disturbing the birds are prohibited, and collecting geological or archaeological material needs authorisation. We did not find a separate public permit procedure for recreational divers: dive only with a licensed local operator (Santa Maria or São Miguel) and check current rules with the operator or the Azores nature-park authority.
- Issuer / contact: Azores Regional Government – Nature Parks (Parque Natural de Santa Maria)
- Tips: Deep, remote and current-swept: only for experienced divers with a licensed operator; wreck penetration not advised without specific training.