HMHS Britannic (Kea, permit-only guided dive)
HMHS Britannic, sister ship of the Titanic, was a hospital ship sunk by a mine in 1916; it lies in the Kea Channel, found by Cousteau's team in 1975. Since June 2022 it is part of the Kea Underwater Historic Site and can be dived only on guided, non-penetration dives with a licensed Greek centre, at 84–118 m: a deep technical dive with line, decompression, possible strong current and boat traffic.
Facts
- Region: Greece – Cyclades & Dodecanese
- Area: Kea (Britannic & wrecks)
- Depth: 84–118 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: moderate
- Type: wreck
- Coordinates: 37.70139, 24.28389
- Highlights: WWI hospital ship, ocean liner sunk 1916, technical dive, CCR / trimix
- Permit: Part of the Kea Underwater Historic Site (opened to divers in June 2022). Access only with guided dives run by a licensed Greek dive centre; individual divers may not dive the wreck or the protected zone around it (minimum distance 300 m), penetration is not allowed, nothing may be removed, and photo/video is for personal use only. Divers need insurance and a recent medical statement. Wrecks are among the 91 ship and aircraft wrecks designated by the Ministry of Culture (Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities) with the Defence and Shipping ministries. Book through a licensed operator such as Kea Divers (info@keadivers.com, +30 22880 22280). (Contact data as shown for the ministry page in search listings; the page itself blocked our automated fetch, so confirm before use.)
- Issuer / contact: Hellenic Ministry of Culture – Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities
- Phone: +30 210 92 35 105
- Email: eena@culture.gr
- Website: https://culture.gov.gr/en/ministry/SitePages/viewyphresia.aspx?iid=1369
- Tips: Technical diving only: depth-appropriate certification, a certified guide, insurance and medical certificate required; Kea Divers states a 100 m limit for CCR divers and a wind limit of 16 knots.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMHS_Britannic
- https://keadivers.com/kea-underwater-historic-site/85-legal-framework.html
- https://keadivers.com/kea-underwater-historic-site/83-diving-conditions.html
- https://indepthmag.com/wrecks-off-kea-rules-that-define-them/
- https://www.wannadive.net/spot/Europe/Greece/Cyclades/Kea_Island/Britannic/index.html