Rex wreck remains
The famous Italian liner Rex was hidden in the shallows between Koper and Izola in 1944, where Allied aircraft set her on fire and she capsized and sank in September of that year. After the war the hull was cut up on site for steel, so only scattered remains are left on the seabed – the Fiesa centre describes them as piles of remnants, while other accounts mention part of the double bottom, boilers and engines. The site is mainly of historical interest and is listed in the Slovenian Register of Cultural Heritage.
Facts
- Region: Slovenia – Coast
- Area: Izola & Strunjan
- Level: intermediate
- Current: low
- Type: wreck
- Coordinates: 45.5511, 13.6919 (approximate)
- Highlights: remains of the Italian ocean liner Rex (sunk 1944), double bottom, boilers and engine parts reported, registered cultural heritage (no. 21615)
- Unverified: Unverified: no dive centre publishes a position, depth or guided programme for the Rex; the point is placed roughly 250 m off the Koper–Izola coast near the Wikipedia location, based on press accounts that the ship grounded about 200–350 m offshore. How much remains is disputed between sources, and whether heritage rules restrict recreational visits was not confirmed.
- Tips: The remains are registered cultural heritage: look but do not touch, remove or dig anything, and report finds. Access is along the busy Koper–Izola coast. Ask a local dive centre about the current state and position before planning a dive.