Our journey began in Paphos, from where we traveled along the coast toward the Turkish border, visiting numerous interesting spots along the way. The views were breathtaking, with endless blue skies and water. While our main goal was to reach Varosha, there was so much to see along the way—Aphrodite’s Beach, the ruins of the ancient city of Kourion, Limassol, the Flamingo Beach. I initially skipped Nicosia after reading online that it wasn’t worth visiting, which I now realize was a big mistake. In my opinion, it’s definitely worth seeing. Fortunately, I got lost and ended up in Nicosia. It felt like fate wanted me to be there, to see this city divided by a border. It was fascinating. I had to cross the border to enter the Turkish side of Cyprus, only to return shortly to the Greek side. I must return to Nicosia someday, especially since there’s an old, abandoned airport there, which I found out about only after returning home.
We reached the Coral Bay coastline toward the end of our journey from the northern part of Cyprus. This allowed me to appreciate the diversity of the island. Each village, hill, and valley we passed revealed new, stunning landscapes. Driving a rented car, we navigated the scenic routes, traveling on the left side of the road—both thrilling and a bit intimidating. My main goal was to reach the Coral Bay coast to see the Edro III shipwreck in person.
The road we traveled took us through mysterious hills. Every turn and rise revealed new, awe-inspiring views. I felt that the best was yet to come.
The Edro III shipwreck rests motionless, anchored on the rocks. Although you cannot explore it up close, it is easily visible from the shore. I recently came across a video where an URBEX crew entered the wreck and filmed its interior. Its picturesque surroundings often serve as a backdrop for wedding photoshoots, attracting photographers from all over the world.
The history of Edro III dates back to 1966 when the ship was built in Norway. By 2011, when the unfortunate accident occurred, the ship was owned by an Albanian company and sailed under the flag of Sierra Leone. On October 7, 2011, during a voyage to Rhodes, a sudden change in weather caused it to become stranded on the rocky coastline near Paphos.
The shipwreck is an impressive sight – approximately 90 meters long and 14.5 meters wide, weighing over 2,300 tons. After the accident, to prevent an ecological disaster, the cargo of gypsum boards and fuel was removed. As a result, though the ship stands as a fascinating symbol of a past tragedy, it poses no threat to the environment. Initially, there were plans to remove it from the beach, but the local authorities couldn’t afford the cost.
Edro III is not just a shipwreck – it’s also a story of fate’s unpredictability and nature’s forces, which can alter the course of events in an instant.