The Loredan had the role of auxiliary cruiser-ship within that group of three ships sadly known in the area with the name of “convoy of Torre delle Stelle” (see desc. Entella and Isonzo Wrecks), departed from Cagliari on that fateful April 10th 1943 and heading to La Maddalena archipelago, hit inexorably by the torpedoes launched by the British submarine Safari, right near the promontory from which the convoy took the name.
The Loredan was the first to sink almost instantly due to the impact of a torpedo that ripped through the hull from side to side in the central area of the keel and it still lies sprawled on his left side on a sandy bottom at a depth ranging between the 53 meters above the starboard side and the 65 meters on the sea bed.
The structure of the wreck is quite intact, except for the huge gash left by the torpedo, providing a really exciting overview also thanks to the transparency of the water which, despite the depth, in this area appears to be almost always crystal clear. Of a particular visual impact is the bow’s section, characterized by the large tree extended horizontally for several meters from the bridge, which seems to be almost suspended in the intense blue of the deep sea.
But the first thing that leaps out as soon as we leave the long descent line is the amazing amount of red and yellow sea fans that literally cover the hull, making this wreck unique and unmistakable and making themselves worthwhile all the efforts required by a technical dive. Also, if this were not enough, groups of red snappers and large amberjacks are constantly hunting the colorful and dense schools of anthias which wrap all around the wreck, while large groupers peep out from the several burrows.
Still, the Loredan wreck lends itself very well to penetrations which, in spite of the depth, are not particularly complicated and where the main issue for the diver is to avoid damages to the magnificent corals that grow inside and around the accesses of corridors.
The dive on the Loredan wreck is obviously dedicated to experienced technical divers, who should consider it as obligatory destination considering that they will face one of the most interesting wrecks in the Mediterranean Sea and probably the most beautiful in our sea of Sardinia.