SS Minnewaska wreck (Marathi)
SS Minnewaska was a 1908 British ocean liner that hit a mine near Souda Bay on 29 November 1916 with about 1,800 troops aboard; the captain ran her aground near Cape Dentero at the entrance to the bay without loss of life. She was broken up on the spot from 1918, but some parts remain. It is one of eleven wrecks opened by the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports in 2022 (open designated monument, exterior only, advance e-mail notification). A dive-listing gives about 19 m maximum depth; the exact position is not published, so the marker is an approximate spot off Marathi.
Facts
- Region: Greece – Crete
- Area: Chania & Akrotiri
- Depth: 3–19 m
- Level: intermediate
- Current: moderate
- Type: wreck
- Coordinates: 35.5035, 24.1765 (approximate)
- Highlights: 1908 British liner mined in 1916, beached at the entrance to Souda Bay, official open wreck monument
- Permit: SS Minnewaska (Marathi, Souda Bay) is one of eleven wrecks the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports opened to visits in June 2022 after documentation by the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, which designated them as monuments. Diving is allowed only around the outside of the wreck; entering the interior needs a ministry decision and is limited to research. Anyone who wants to dive must e-mail their details to the Ephorate at eea-shipwrecks@culture.gr at least one day before. Do not damage the wreck or collect or move any object on or near it (Law 4688/2020, Art. 7). This is a notification, not a permit, but it is a legal condition. The press report does not say whether a licensed dive centre is mandatory; go with a licensed centre and check current rules.
- Issuer / contact: Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports - Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities (wreck-visit notification)
- Email: eea-shipwrecks@culture.gr
- Website: https://www.culture.gov.gr/
- Unverified: Access rules are from a June 2022 press report (GTP); the ministerial decision text and a current phone number could not be opened. Exact position and depth are not officially published (position approximate, depth from a dive listing).
- Tips: Exterior only. Blue Adventures has a base at Marathi; confirm with a licensed centre that the notification e-mail has been sent.