The Italian Submarine "Sciré"
At the heart of the Haifa Bay, 11 km off Kiryat Haim shore and 33 meter deep, rests the submarine Scir?, which was sunk in 1942 by the British who settled in Haifa. The Scir? originally arrived here to attack the navy base situated at the port, was identified, hit and sunk. Many years passed before it was finally located, and during the late 1980s, a memorial service was held above its sinking location, in collaboration with the Israeli and Italian navies. Through the years, the Sciré had transformed into a unique and extraordinary habitat. This, in my opinion, is the second most beautiful site, following the Big Raft. The submarine's command bridge stands out at the middle and the entire periscope system is decorated mostly with sea vegetation and oysters. The massive impact and explosion endured by the bow of the vessel is quite visible seeing as it really split the submarine in half. Purple starfish rest on the surface of the submarine, and in order to "grant them some lively color," turning on lights is a must. After circling the bow of the Sciré, it is recommended to dive along its other side, heading toward the stern, where the propeller and the "hog cabins" are visible. While doing so, it is likely you will encounter some stingray fish seeking food at the bottom of the sea. These fish will quickly hide underneath the body of the submarine if ever approached too fast. Large flocks of Barramundi and Trigger fish are likely to pass above. Sea turtles and dolphins are also casual guests here, but to actually see them, you need luck. In order to enjoy a relatively extended dive, it is advisable to be equipped with Nitrox.
The only club to supply Nitrox in the north is "Val - Tal located at the surfers beach in Haifa, telephone 8511523.
Dive operators to this area:
Blue - Kiryat Haim, telephone 8714048.
Putzker - Naharia, telephone 9511503.
