Dive into History – Wreck Diving Expedition VIS 2025

From September 6 to 13, 2025, a diving expedition organized by Liberty Divers Club took place on the island of Vis. The expedition explored four remarkable wrecks in the sea around Vis - underwater remains that are not only witnesses of the past but also invaluable technical and aesthetic challenges for experienced divers.

Crystal‑clear waters, excellent visibility, and a historically extraordinarily rich location combined their powers to create a week we will never forget. Below are the stories of the four wrecks we visited - each with its own energy, gravitas, and beauty.

 

B-17 Flying Fortress

At a depth of about 72 meters, just off the island of Vis, lies one of the most famous aircraft wrecks of World War II — the American bomber B‑17 Flying Fortress. On November 6, 1944, a plane from the 340th Bomb Squadron took off, intending to bomb targets in Vienna, but bad weather forced them to divert toward Maribor. The bombers tried to hide in the clouds, but clear skies exposed them to German fighters that attacked and damaged them.
On the way to an emergency airstrip on the island of Vis, the last engine failed — and the plane ran out of fuel. Pilot Lt. Emerson managed to bring the aircraft down onto the sea’s surface, where it stayed for a few minutes, then sank.
Today the wreck lies peacefully on a sandy bottom. On descent, the mighty silhouette becomes visible already at 50 meters depth — the aircraft’s body, wings, propellers, and even the interior are still well preserved. In the cockpit, remnants of clothing and a shoe of the mortally wounded co‑pilot are still visible. A rusty steering wheel, held by the pilot until the end, still quietly tells its story. The wheels, which should have touched the runway on Vis, ended up at the bottom of the sea, slowly sinking into the sand.
Every dive to this wreck is more than just a technical challenge — it is an encounter with history, frozen in that day in November 1944. It is an experience that divers will remember for a long time.

 

SS Michael N. Maris

Several miles west of Vis hides the magnificent steam cargo ship Michael N. Maris, built in 1899. It sank in 1932 after colliding with a reef while carrying coal to Trieste. Today this steel beauty, more than 100 meters long, stands upright on a sandy bottom — like a ship waiting for its next voyage, but which will never sail again.

The dive to this wreck is a technical challenge, but even just gazing at its majestic bow structure makes you forget about decompression stops and tanks on your back. The entire hull is overgrown with gorgonians and colourful sponges, and schools of fish shelter among the iron framework. A true underwater cathedral, enchanting both in size and atmosphere.

 

Brioni

In a bay near the island of Ravnik lies the wreck of the passenger‑cargo steamer Brioni, built in 1909. Its fate was sealed by a storm in February 1930 that drove it onto rocky shores. Today, this elegant wreck lies tilted on its side, its structure still well preserved — especially the mid‑section and parts of the deck.

Brioni is a true feast for the eyes. The dive is also accessible for advanced recreational divers, since parts of the wreck become visible already at 45 meters. Colourful sponges that adorn her sides create a beautiful backdrop, while moray eels and other marine creatures can be found hiding inside the wreck. The dive on Brioni is less demanding than on the other three wrecks, but no less thrilling — especially for lovers of underwater photography and the small details that tell of shipboard life from over a century ago.

 

B-17 “Garbage Cannie”

Finally, a wreck that is nearly myth among diving circles — the American bomber B‑17 “Garbage Cannie”, resting at the incredible depth of 115 meters near the island of Svetac. The aircraft is said to have suffered heavy damage during a mission and tried to make it back to Vis but ended its journey at sea, west of the island. “Garbage Cannie” was the crew’s nickname; despite the damage they managed to bring their plane to sea and escape.

Due to its depth, it is one of the most demanding dives in the Adriatic — absolutely reserved for experienced technical divers with rebreathers and advanced trimix mix. What lies below, however, is breathtaking. The plane is almost untouched, cut off from time and people. The feeling when you hover alongside the aircraft’s body of this flying fortress, deep beneath the surface, is indescribable. As if you’re diving into a time capsule, into a moment still suspended among the waves.

The VIS 2025 expedition was not just another dive — it was an experience that transcends depth. Each wreck brought its own story, character, and silence. And even though we returned from the depths tired, with decompression stops in mind and thoughts of the next dive — we all knew: we had experienced something truly special.
The wrecks we visited are not just metal remains — they are underwater museums, breathing history, courage, and mystery.

Razbitine, ki smo jih obiskali, niso le kovinski ostanki – so podvodni muzeji, ki dihajo zgodovino, pogum in skrivnosti.

Photos: Liberty Divers Club – VIS 2025 expedition
Location: Komiža, island of Vis, Croatia