AVANTIS III

The Avantis III (originally built in 1977 at Tronderverftet shipyard in Hommelvik, Norway, as Akershus) was an 80-meter, 1,061 GRT commercial cargo ship that sank off Dorousa islet (southwest of Agistri) at approximately 03:45 AM on November 19, 2004. En route from Messolonghi to Cyprus loaded with construction materials, building tiles, and a Honda Varadero motorcycle, the vessel struck the northern rocky ledges of Dorousa in calm weather and sank within 20 minutes. Tragically, the ship's 35-year-old cook, Vassilis Koronis—who had joined the vessel just five days earlier—lost his life in the incident. The remaining 11 crew members (10 Greeks and one foreign national) were rescued unharmed from life rafts. Today, the wreck rests fully intact on its port side on a clean sandy seabed, starting at 18 meters at the starboard hull railing and descending to 48 meters at the seafloor. Divers can inspect the massive bronze propeller at 41 meters, deck winches, intact bridge instruments, cargo holds, and the motorcycle resting in the cargo bay.