In February of 1868 the paddle steamer PATRIS, one of the most modern ships of her time, started her voyage from Piraeus to Syros with 400 passengers and crew and full of goods. Syros was a commercial business centre in the second half of the 19th century. Due to a navigational error, the proud ship collided with the mapped reef of Koundouros in Kea Island.

The ship rolled on the slopes of the reef and is torn into two pieces. The bow of the ship is located at 30 meters whilst the stern is located at 50 meters depth. Although several pieces were salvaged over the past years years, the iron skeleton and several sections of the wooden deck and the “fins” from one of the two paddle wheels are still visible. One of the ships wheel was removed in 2007 and is currently exhibited at the Museum of Syros.

A unique wreck lies hidden in the bay of Koundouros Kea for over 150 years. It is a rare example of a paddle steamer. Patris was a modern boat with a length of 66 meters, width of 8.5 meters, and steam engines providing 180 horsepower. Constructed as Othon in 1859 to 1860 at the Charles Lungley shipyards at Deptford, Thames in England. Intended as a royal vessel with the name Othon, the King of Greece.

In 1862 after the departure of the King, it was transferred to the Hellenic SteamshipCompany which was based in Ermoupoli of Syros,  an important commercial and transit center of that era. On the 23rd to the 24th of February in 1868 due to a navigation error she struck the Koundouros Reef west of Kea island and sank.

The video and photos are from 11th of October in 2020 when we visited the wreck with a group of friends. We would like to thank Divers Corner fοr getting us safely to the dive site and back.