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Bulgaria Underwater Photo Sites (2)
The „St. Ivan” Island is with an area of 660 decares and is the biggest of the five islands along the Bulgarian coastline. Just a strait of several meters separates it from the "St. Peter" Island with an area of 4-5 decares. Between them and the shore there were two other islands in the antiquity, called Milos and Gata, which today are underwater.
Nowadays, the „St. Ivan” Island is not inhabited. In 1884, French engineers built a lighthouse pointing the way to the Burgas bay. On the same spot there lie the remains of an antique Roman lighthouse, which was built in ІІ century A.D.
The ruins of the monastery church "St. Ivan Foreshadower", built in 1263, can be seen there.
Besides its historical relics, the „St. Ivan” Island is also a natural reserve. About 72 species of birds nest in its rocks, land, and on its shore, out of which 3 species are included in the Red book of endangered species in the world and 15 in Europe. Other rare biological species inhabit the island as well – the underground hare and the “Monk” seal.
Lots of shoals of fish and other sea wildlife can be seen in the waters around the island at a depth between 4 and 25 meters. The cliffs are covered with black mussels.
| Facts about St. Ivan and St. Peter, Sozopol It is in Bulgaria- St. Ivan and St. Peter, Sozopol is in the Black Sea.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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Cape "St. Toma" is located about 15 km to the south from the town of Sozopol. Opposite it, about 400 meters from the shore, there is a small island called "St. Toma", also known as “The Snake Island”. The botanist Buresh planted a collection of cactuses on the island with an area of 3 decares in the twenties of the last century. Today, the cactuses have taken over the whole area of the island and perhaps this is why it has been proclaimed a natural reserve. Beautiful cliffs are located in the water around the island, rich of underwater wild live. The depth is from 4 to 12 meters.
| Facts about St. Toma (Snake island)- It is in Bulgaria
- St. Toma (Snake island) is in the Black Sea.
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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The cove is located to the south of the town of Sozopol. This is a place where many species inhabiting the Black Sea can be seen. There are also very beautiful underwater cliffs. Another underwater attraction in the cove is a huge ancient anchor. The place is suitable for beginners and experienced divers alike. The depth is from 6 to 20 meters, and near the shore it goes beneath 5 meters.
| Facts about St. Stefan cove- It is in Bulgaria
- St. Stefan cove is in the Black Sea.
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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In the strait between the northern part of Sozopol and the "St. Ivan" Island, at a depth between 18-20 meters, the bottom is sandy and leveled. Suddenly, gloomy stony branches loom before the underwater divers, with a diameter of 4 - 5 meters. There are hundreds of them and impart the strange feeling of being in an apocalyptic ancient wood. This is really a petrified forest, which sank 70 millions years ago under the Black Sea waters.
Scientists’ researches have determined the trees species to be swamp cedar. A swamp existed here 70 million years ago, not far from the shore. It seems that due to a great geological cataclysm, the sea abruptly raised its level with about 20 meters. It is supposed that the water did not contain oxygen and this led to petrifaction and not to decomposition of the ancient forest.
The underwater tour in the forest among the stone tree trunks is an unforgettable and exciting experience for every underwater diver. Pleasant finds from all historical ages are quite possible here – ancient anchors, amphorae, pottery ware and others. It is supposed that on entering the harbor bay of Sozopol, sailors used to throw away all unnecessary and damaged pottery in the sea.
| Facts about Stone forest, Sozopol- It is in Bulgaria
- Stone forest, Sozopol is in the Black Sea.
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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A Turkish cargo steamship. Launched in 1888. Displacement 330 GRT. On 23.05.1942, while traveling from Burgas to Istanbul, it was unsuccessfully attacked with two torpedoes by the Soviet Sht-205 submarine, not far from Tsarevo. Fearing a repeat attack, the captain of Sefak turned ashore and dropped anchor. The ship’s fate was decided: shooting now at a stationary target, Suhomlinov, the submarine captain, sent the steamship to the bottom with the next two torpedoes. All nine crew members saved themselves.
Today the ship is found about 50 meters from the shore, at a depth of 10-16 meters. Discernible is a part of the stern with the screw and three-meter helm, as well as a multitude of debris over some hundred meters area. Part of the cargo comprising sanitary faience and tiles inscribed "Made in Hungary" is scattered over the bottom.
Among the fragments one can see a part of the torpedo that probably hit the ship in the middle. The Sefak is about 50 meters long, it lies with the bow pointing out to sea.
| Facts about Sеfak- It is in Bulgaria
- Sеfak is in the Black Sea.
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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A French cargo steamship built in France in 1914. At the time of perishing it was sailing under Bulgarian flag. The ship sank into the thick fog on 15.02.1929. In the 50’s the ship was blown up underwater for the purpose of recovering the cargo and pieces of the hull.
The wreckage is lying with the stern to the shore at a distance of some 30 meters from the land. Certain items of cargo can be discerned such as the steam boilers, parts of the deck, a few pipes and rails. The depth is between 18 and 24 meters. Parts of the ship are scattered over an area of around one hundred meters.
The water temperature is between 6-10 degrees in may to 20-22 in august - september.
The shortest time to reach the dive site is 25 min with a boat (type of Zodiac) from Sozopol.
| Facts about Jaques Fressinet- It is in Bulgaria
- Jaques Fressinet is in the Black Sea.
- The typical depth is 0-20 Metres 0-60 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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Rodina is Bulgarian cargo ship launched at sea in 1922. On Sept 19, 1941 „Rodina” was sailing full of load from Istanbul to Varna. It was guarded by two Bulgarian mine-layers. In the region of Burgas, it came across two mines and sank very quickly. Three people died. The crews of the mine-layers saved 37 people.
The depth is between 33 - 40 meters. The height which „Rodina” reaches from the bottom is 14.5 meters. There is free access to the superstructure and holds, which are empty.
The vessel is intact and is a place of great interest to the experienced scuba divers.
The water temperature is between 6-10 degrees in may to 18 in august - september.
| Facts about Rodina, Sozopol- It is in Bulgaria
- Rodina, Sozopol is in the Black Sea.
- The typical depth is 0-40 Metres 0-130 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 3-10 Metres 10-30 Feet.
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Mopang was an American cargo ship built in 1920 by the Submarine Boat Co shipyard in Newark, New Jersey. The vessel sank on 30 June 1921 after hitting a mine near the port of Burgas, near St.Ivan island. The wreck lies largely intact on its starboard side in ave. 27 m. of water. The max depth is 33m. Visibility is between 0.5m to 10m depends from the weather. Teperature of the water vary - 6-10 degrees in early spring to 20 in september. The best time to dive on Mopang is from may to october. The shortest time to reach the dive site is 10 min with a boat (type of Zodiac) from Sozopol. There is 4-5 dive centers in Sozopol.
| Facts about Mopang, Sozopol- It is in Bulgaria
- Mopang, Sozopol is in the Black Sea.
- The typical depth is 0-40 Metres 0-130 Feet.
- The typical visibility is 0-3 Metres 0-10 Feet.
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Latin name-Callionymus pusillus. Bulgarian name-Striped sea mouse-male
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Perfect place for snorkeling and diving. Sozopol is a ancient city from the elenic time. A lot of wery well preserved wreks, caves, kannions etc.
| Facts about Sozoplo, Kavacite Beach- It is in Bulgaria
- Sozoplo, Kavacite Beach is in the Black Sea.
- The typical depth is 0-30 Metres 0-100 Feet.
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