Ibiza wreck open for business

The Don Pedro cargo ship sank in June 2007 when, just ten minutes into its journey, it hit the island of Isla de Daus off the shoreline of Ibiza Town. All of the ship's crew were saved but the vessel was carrying 200 tonnes of oil. As a result three of Ibiza's beaches were temporarily closed and a huge cleanup project ensued.

In May this year the future of the wreck had looked bleak for divers when the Island's Council decided to dismantle the ship. But now, two months on, the council has retracted its original decision and opened the site up to divers.

Classed as a UNESCOTM world heritage site for its Posidonia seagrass habitats the waters of Ibiza already attract a steady stream of divers. However, the opening of the Don Pedro wreck, which is located at a depth of 43m one nautical mile from Ibiza's port, is expected to draw even more to the Spanish island.

Hansgeorg Lichte, Managing Director of Salinas Diving Centre, explained: 'Dive boats are able to reach the site within fifteen minutes. Once there divers can explore the ghostly atmosphere of this gigantic shipwreck.' ...[Dive Magazine]