In the bay of Agia Marina Bay, the cargo ship Kaptan Ismail Hakki rests on the seabed, offering a unique blend of history and underwater exploration.
The vessel was approximately 30 meters long and was transporting 578 tons of iron ore, along with a vintage automobile. For reasons that remain unknown to this day, the ship sank on January 30, 1978, just 200 meters from the shore, at a shallow depth of 12 meters.

The ship belonged to the Deval Shipping Group and was named after Ismail Hakki, the company’s second owner. When he took over the company in 1952, he introduced a new, modern era to the Turkish merchant fleet by converting all of its steamships to diesel-powered vessels. The Kaptan Ismail Hakki is believed to have been among the first Turkish ships to undergo this transformation.

Local history tells a remarkable story connected to the sinking. Thanks to the quick thinking of a shepherd who happened to be in Agia Marina at the time, no lives were lost. He lit fires on the area’s only sandy beach to guide the crew safely ashore, preventing them from being pushed onto the rocky coastline of Cape Maleas. As a gesture of gratitude, the rescued sailors gifted their lifeboat to the local farmers of the region.

Today, the Kaptan Ismail Hakki lies peacefully beneath the surface, slowly becoming part of the marine environment. It is an accessible and meaningful wreck dive, combining maritime history, human resilience, and respect for the sea—an unforgettable experience for divers and visitors alike.