Kissamos, Crete, Greece

Messerschmitt 109 Wreck

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 wreck off Kissamos Bay in western Crete is one of the few intact Second World War German fighter aircraft accessible to recreational divers in the Mediterranean. The single-seat fighter ditched during the Battle of Crete in May 1941 and now rests upright on a sandy bottom at approximately 24 metres, with the propeller, cockpit fuselage, and tail section still recognisable despite decades of corrosion. Because the aircraft is officially protected as a war relic under Greek antiquities law, it may only be visited with a licensed local guide and nothing may be removed. The relatively shallow depth, calm bay, and excellent visibility make this an approachable dive for advanced open-water divers. Sandy patches around the wreck host common stingray, weever fish, sole and red mullet, while the metal structure itself is colonised by encrusting sponges and small reef fish such as damselfish, painted comber and ornate wrasse. Octopus often shelter beneath the wings. The bay is dived year-round but spring and autumn tend to deliver the clearest water and least surface chop.