Courtesy of Marios Papavasileiou who provided us with the coordinates, the Addicted2h2o dive team discovered a new wreck at a depth of 70 meters.  Divers Stelios Stamatakis, Marios Papavasileiou, Ioannis Simiridis and Errikos Kranidiotis took part in the first reconnaissance dive. Many thanks to Diver’s Corner and our boat captain Vassilis Adamopoulos.

On April 14, 2024, the Addicted2H2O team carried out an exploratory dive on a previously unknown wreck, located approximately 3 nautical miles off Piraeus. What initially appeared to be just another unknown wreck was eventually identified as the tugboat Armadores, a small vessel with a remarkably unusual story behind its loss. Armadores was a tug of around 150 gross tons, operating in the port of Piraeus during the 1960s. On June 4, 1964, during what should have been a routine towing operation, she was tasked with assisting the passenger ship Agamemnon out of the harbor. Weather conditions were calm, and nothing suggested the events that would follow.

In an attempt to capture a striking photograph of the large passenger vessel, the tug approached dangerously close to its bow. This decision proved fatal. The Armadores was struck by the very ship it was assisting, and the collision caused it to sink within minutes. Most of the crew managed to abandon the vessel in time, including the captain and three crew members. Tragically, a 25-year-old assistant engineer was trapped in the engine room and went down with the tug. The incident remains one of the most unusual maritime accidents recorded in Greece, as it is believed to be the only known case of a vessel sinking during a staged photographic maneuver.

Today, the wreck of the Armadores rests on the seabed of the Saronic Gulf, forming a compelling dive site. Its location, relatively close to shore yet outside the busy port zone, makes it accessible but still demanding, requiring proper planning and experience. Our dive revealed a wreck with strong character: recognizable structural elements, remains of the engine room, and deck features that clearly reflect its role as a working tug. At the same time, the damage tells the story of the violent nature of its sinking. The site feels like a frozen moment in time, directly connecting the diver with the events of 1964.

For us, Armadores is not just another wreck. It is a piece of Piraeus maritime history—a story that combines human error, maritime operations, and the pursuit of the perfect shot, with tragic consequences.

The Dive: After sorting out a mulfunction in the bcd hose of one diver and a partially flooded drysuit of another, the divers commenced their dive. Upon reaching the sandy bottom of 70 meters there was no wreck in sight, even though a sonar sweep in the same area where the down line was deployed indicated a large piece of wreckage. It was evident the down line was carried several meters away from the mild current. The visibility was medium at best which hamperred the team’s effort in locating the wreck underwater. The divers deployed a line from the down line and followed a course in the direction they believed the wreck was located. Low and behold after approximately 25 to 30 meters a shape of a wreck emerged. The team of divers secured the line to the wreck and began exploring and filming the vessel. Parts of the wreck such as the bridge and air ventilation funnel are clearly evident, as are the nets which have completely covered the aft section