Black Sea

“Ignaty Prokhorov” Steamer (Lyudmila). Wreck. Balaklava.

Diving deeper and deeper to the sea bottom the diver at last may see at the level of 80-90 m a hull of a well-preserved steamer from the past. Its name “Ignaty Prokhorov” is well seen on the stern. It was found out later by the expedition participants, who explored this sunken ship, that the ship belonged to the Emperor’s Navy. In 1917 the White Guard gained control of this vessel, and as early as in 1918 it tripped a mine.

This interesting finding makes an indelible impression on divers, the more so as many its premises are still unexplored, and the true cause of loss of this ship hasn’t been discovered yet. You feel, as it were, some other world and you touch the history for a while. You will see a long topside, a jumbo screw propeller, clinging to the seam bottom, turned up head of the ship, open hatches at the stern and near the galley, empty davits tied to the boards, command bridge, steam funnel. You will get down to the engine room and cabins, view a plenty of ferruginous icicles, which hang down quite absurdly from the stairs and boards of the vessel. Visit the vast holds interconnected by through passages. Boards, ropes and other remains of the ship cargo are scattered all over their floors.