Dive· Leros· Greece — Dodecanese, Sporades & North Aegean
Vasilissa Olga destroyer wreck (Lakki Bay)
37° 7.4′ N · 26° 51.2′ E
The Greek destroyer Vasilissa Olga ('Queen Olga'), pride of the wartime Greek fleet, was bombed by German Ju 88s at anchor in Lakki (then Portolago) on 26 September 1943, opening the Battle of Leros. She now lies in the bay, and divers can still see the bomb holes in her funnels.
Practical
Diving on Greek wrecks is restricted: these are among the 91 modern wrecks the Culture Ministry listed in 2021 for organized, guided dives, so go with the local dive centre (Hydrovius, Krithoni) rather than independently from your yacht, and take nothing. Depth figures differ: Hydrovius' dive map gives 28–32 m (its map pin says 36 m), aegeanislands.gr says 30 m and the 2021 ministry list says 40 m, so treat it as an advanced/deep dive. Visibility is only medium, 5–10 m, because the wreck is inside the port (travel-zone-greece). 72 crew died in the attack, so the wreck is a war grave. Over 100 finds from the wreck are in the Bellenis Tower Museum (Alinda), and there is a crew memorial on the Lakki waterfront. Coordinate is the Hydrovius dive-map pin. Lakki is a working harbour with marinas and ferry traffic: no anchoring or diving from yachts over the site.
Best for
Leros' signature WWII wreck dive
Nearby
- Lakki floating metal buoy (WWII mooring buoy)0.1 NM away
- Autumn southerlies & thunderstorms (Dodecanese)0.2 NM away
- Lakki Harbour (Leros)0.2 NM away
- Lakki landing craft wreck (Lakki Bay)0.2 NM away
- Agmar Marina (Lakki)0.4 NM away
- Evros Leros Marina (Lakki)0.4 NM away
- Leros Marina (Evros) boatyard & haul-out0.4 NM away
- Leros Port of Entry — Lakki Port Police0.4 NM away