The first Mahratta steamship was launched in 1891, and it served as a troopship for the Boer War in 1900. It ran aground after it was found out that the captain failed to take the right course, not recognizing the Gull Light, and was stuck in the Goodwin Sands.
Fortunately, the weather permitted its passengers to be transferred. Some were even allowed the right of salvage, but eventually, the ship was torn in two by bad weather. A second ship was made in 1917, but it was also wrecked similarly in 1939. Search operations found it on top of the first Mahratta, as if they had long sought each other across the seas.
The Ancient City of Epidaurus
The ancient sunken city of Epidaurus is a real sight to behold. This once glorious location was a commercial center in Argolida, Greece. But it’s not so much a city as it was a tiny settlement that was probably used for trading. Walls, stations, and hollowed-out buildings are what remain.
Being so close to the shore and located on fairly shallow waters, these ruins are pretty easy to access. It’s also a prime location for snorkeling with plenty of colorful fish and marine life inhabiting the area. Here, we see a bird’s eye view of a swimmer exploring the city’s ruins.
The 'Black Jack' Aircraft Wreck
On July 11, 1943, a U.S. B17-F Bomber was returning to base, when a severe engine failure during a terrible storm caused the plane to go off-course, run out of fuel, and drop down into the ocean. The plane was nicknamed the 'Black Jack' because it had the number 21 at the end of its serial number.
Fortunately, the crew was rescued in time and survived, but the 'Black Jack' sunk to the bottom of the ocean. The aircraft was found 43 years later near Boga Boga, Cape Vogel, in Papua New Guinea, and was mostly intact. In fact, this has become one of the world's most famous dive sites, because it is so well-preserved that even the plane's weaponry and equipment are still in place.
The Roman Ruins of Baiae
Here, a diver explores an ancient Roman mosaic located in the underwater ruins of Baiae, Naples, Italy. For many centuries, this town of the past was popular among the Romans and considered even more prestigious than neighboring cities like Pompeii, Capri, and Herculaneum because of its hot springs and other amenities.
Volcanic activity caused parts of the town to be submerged underwater. In the 1950s, Italian archeologists conducted wide excavations in the region, leading to the rediscovery of the ruins, and most notably, stunning villas and beautiful mosaics that had been well-preserved over time. It’s definitely worth diving deep into the waters to see.
The Sunken City of Dolchiste
Turkey is laden with beautiful islands and coastal towns that have, for the large part, been preserved for hundreds (sometimes thousands) of years. The coast of Kekova Island is home to an incredible sunken city – Dolchiste, which was destroyed by an earthquake back in the 2nd century. The only remaining living inhabitants of the ruins are a few goats.
In 1958, a Turkish army captain accidentally discovered the site, noticing the ruins under the clear waters. Since then, the government has protected the site, opening it to limited numbers of visitors and tourists, who can only see the ruins from their boats.
The Mahabalipuram Pagoda
A cluster of monuments can be found by the shore at the Bay of Bengal. When Europeans first reached it, a legend already existed at the time, which said that these monuments, along with the Shore Temple, used to have 6 other temples erected within the vicinity. The south Indian city of Mahabalipuram was, therefore, nicknamed “Seven Pagodas” after the legend.
But these myths were only revealed by a tsunami in 2004. As the water receded to signal the building up of huge waves, layers of sand were drawn out revealing the many relics of the ancient temples. Many witnesses saw the columns of the buried temple rise, which confirmed their existence without a doubt.
Fields of Manganese Balls
In 2015, a group of German scientists embarked on a routinary expedition in the Atlantic Ocean to collect biological samples underwater, and to take deep-sea images for various scientific studies, using an epibenthic sled. Exploring the ocean floor, they instead found a vast deposit of metal balls.
These nodules are heavy, and although they can be found mostly in the Pacific, never have they stumbled upon such concentration in the Atlantic. Some could be as round and large as a bowling ball, and scientists say this could be key to finding rare metals, which are normally used in electronic devices.
The SS Mahratta(s)
The first Mahratta steamship was launched in 1891, and it served as a troopship for the Boer War in 1900. It ran aground after it was found out that the captain failed to take the right course, not recognizing the Gull Light, and was stuck in the Goodwin Sands.
Fortunately, the weather permitted its passengers to be transferred. Some were even allowed the right of salvage, but eventually, the ship was torn in two by bad weather. A second ship was made in 1917, but it was also wrecked similarly in 1939. Search operations found it on top of the first Mahratta, as if they had long sought each other across the seas.
The Baltic Sea Anomaly
You’ll never know what you might encounter while probing the deep. A marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, the Ocean X company embarked on a treasure-hunting mission around the area, armed with high-tech equipment to scan the bottom of the sea with sonar imagery.
Expecting to find some clues of ancient treasures, they stumble upon an oddly shaped image of what looks like an alien spaceship on the floor of the northern Baltic Sea. The discovery was made in 2011, and they scampered to get a sample of the structure, which turned out to be made of stone. Scientists are still unsure of its origin, but speculate that it might be a product of glacial and volcanic processes.
The HMVS Cerberus
While not necessarily discovered, the HMVS Cerberus is a stunning historic warship that has remained submerged off the coast of Victoria for many years now. It was originally built for the colony of Victoria back in the 1800s.
Although it had all of the components to be a formidable war vessel, it never actually saw battle and remained in the Philip Bay port during its operational years – which lasted about half a century. When it was deemed obsolete, the vessel was intentionally sunk in 1926 to serve as a breakwater. Since then, it has been clearly visible for locals and tourists alike to see.
The MS Zenobia
There is something about shipwrecks that captivates us. To dive deep into the ocean and be in the same space that was once so deadly to many people, a place no one could escape from. To dive with a fiery imagination and perhaps discover the remains of a tragic event.
Tumbled trucks, decadent, can be found in what used to be the MS Zenobia. Its maiden voyage turned into a fiasco in 1980. The Swedish ferry rests at the bottom of the sea, close to Larnaca, Cyprus. Since then, it has evolved into a favorite spot for divers all around the world.
Kedrai
Located on Sedir Island, the ancient city of Kedrai was located not too far from what was known as Cleopatra’s Beach. During its peak, Kedrai was a significant center of trade, tracing its origins back to the 6th century BC. Kedrai literally means “cedar,” as there were plenty of cedar trees on the island.
However, that is no longer the case. There was no singular event in which the ruins were discovered, but many excavations and digs have been conducted over the years. One of the most significant sites of Kedrai is the 2500-seat theatre, which still stands until this very day.
The Ice Finger of Death
This photograph has nothing to do with wizardry, but it looks like ice lighting has struck the sea bed to punish a group of starfishes. It is actually a natural phenomenon called “Brinicles,” which occurs when seawater freezes in polar oceans. This causes concentrates of sea brine to be expelled, and a downward projection is shot due to its lower freezing point.
This was scientifically acknowledged in the sixties, but its first image was documented in 2011. Here, a tube of saltwater descends beneath the ice as it makes contact with a neighboring body of ocean water; the process is referred to as “The ice Finger of Death.”
The USS Oriskany
The USS Oriskany was nicknamed The Mighty O, one of the Essex-class carriers commissioned after the Second World War. It was named after one of the bloodiest battles during the Revolutionary War in 1777, the Battle of Oriskany. The ship has been retired from service in 1976, and sold for scrap.
The USS Oriskany has found itself useful to the environment beyond its call of duty. It was sunk in the Gulf of Mexico in 2006 and is used as an artificial reef, the largest vessel to be utilized as such, and its presence makes the area a choice destination for divers.
The SS Thistlegorm
This British-armed Merchant Navy ship was built in 1940. It had three successful voyages until it was sunk during its fourth trip, on its way to Alexandria, Egypt. It traveled to the US, Argentina, and the West Indies. A German bomber plane suspected it of being a troop carrier and targeted it, triggering the ship’s own load of bombs and ammunition to explode, causing the SS Thistlegorm to sink in 1941.
Interest over its wreckage had been resumed after Jacques Cousteau discovered it in the 1950s. He was able to raise some of its load, while most of it remains underwater. It’s now a recreational dive site where motorcycles, trucks, and rifles, which it was supposed to deliver to the Allied forces in Egypt, can be seen on deck.
The Yonaguni Ruins
This photo was taken in Japan. A diver can be seen swimming close to the bedrock of a set of mysterious ruins, not too far from Yonaguni Island in the Okinawa Prefecture. As seen here, it has a peculiar, circular indentation that has left archeologists with plenty of question marks about its origins.
With what appears to be steps, divers and researchers alike have debated about whether it was manmade or purely the result of Mother Nature. There are other majestic parts of this discovered underwater “city,” for lack of a better term. This photo is merely scratching the surface of this strange mystery.
F4U Corsair
This photograph shows the F4U Corsair, an American fighter aircraft that saw heavy action during the Second World War. The pilot of this carrier-based aircraft encountered a fuel shortage while returning from a mission.
The pilot was able to contact his home base to seek for assistance and mainly informed headquarters that he was highly unlikely to make it back with little fuel left. He was forced to crash-land at sea but was later on rescued. Unfortunately, the aircraft had not been saved, and it remains at the ocean basin.
Belize
The Great Blue Hole is a huge underwater cave, off the coast of Belize. To fully appreciate its beauty, one has to fly over the sinkhole located near the Lighthouse Reef. It’s surrounding water is a deep dark blue, that is so because it traps the sunlight in.
Not readily visible from the horizon, it only became famous following Jacques Cousteau’s declaration of the hole as one of the best dive sites in the world. It is 407 feet deep, and 984 feet across; an enclosure full of mystery that fires up everyone’s imagination.
The USS Apogon Submarine
Here, we can see some artifacts that were once aboard the USS Apogon Submarine, located close to the Marshall Islands in the Bikini Atoll of the Pacific Ocean. The submarine in question still rests at the bottom of this atoll, having once served in World War II. It sank after hitting a mine off the coast of Okinawa, being decommissioned a year later.
Fast forward about 60-70 years later, and a team of divers discovered the submarine once again, finding that the vessel had suffered minimal damage. These days, divers and snorkelers love diving down to check out the sub from the outside.
The Lost City of Pavlopetri
A trip off the coast of Laconia in Greece may lead you to the lost city of Pavlopetri. Its ancient name is unknown, but its modern term means “Paul and Peter’s,” or “Paul’s Stone,” after the two well-known Christian saints.
The lost city is reckoned to be 5,000 years old, making it the oldest among submerged lost cities in the world, and the ruins found on the location date back to the Mycenaean Period. It was discovered in 1967 by Nicholas Flemming across Elafonisos village and the Pounta coast.
The Chihuo-hol Dos Cenote
Located in the Yucatan peninsula, the Chihuo-hol Dos Cenote is a natural sinkhole that was discovered by archaeologists thanks to the technology of the time, local knowledge, and painstaking research. Over time limestone rock eroded, opening up a hole to a beautiful subterranean body of water.
And Chihuo-hol Dos Cenote is certainly one of the most stunning cenotes of them all. With clear, turquoise waters and remains of pottery still on the cenote bed, it’s an absolute dream for divers and researchers alike. Here, we see a diver feasting his eyes on one of the relics, that has remained in decent condition since the Mayan ages.
Stanier 8F Locomotive
As previously established, the SS Thistlegorm is considered to be one of the most famous shipwrecks of the last few hundred years. When it sank, there were many, many different vehicles aboard, with many dispersing to various parts of the Red Sea's bed. The ship suffered a serious explosion, causing two locomotives to fly off the deck and onto the bed.
Here is one of the trains in question. These trains were "Stanier 8F" models, weighing about 127 tonnes and measuring about 19.2 meters long. The explosion sent the trains flying about 30 meters away and caused serious damage, only leaving their front parts recognizable.
The Fatima
Here is a photo of the windlass (an apparatus for moving heavy weight) from the ship Fatima. In 1854, this impressive vessel was sailing from Melbourne to Jakarta, but failed to reach its destination, being shipwrecked along the way.
While the crew were rescued and completed their journey, Fatima sunk to the bottom of the Great Detached Reef. Prior to this event, the ship had been built in England, eventually embarking on the long journey from London all the way to Port Adelaide, Australia. Clearly, this ship went through a lot and this is pretty much all that is left of it.
The LEF1 Vessel
What a beautiful vessel we have laid our eyes on. These two divers were in for a treat when they saw the LEF1. This 15-meter-long vessel ended up sinking to the bottom of the Cypriot waters, not too far from Larnaca, in the winter of 2019.
It is 15 meters below sea level and has since become the island’s very first artificial snorkeling reef. Divers have visited the site ever since its discovery, with many photographers also flocking to it for its strange, mysterious charm. Divers can even go inside the vessel, where many different marine lifeforms can be found such as lionfish, gobbids, parrotfish, and more.
Nippo Maru
Here, we can see the wreckage of the Nippo Maru surrounded by coral and marine life. This cargo ship sunk the bottom of the Chuuk Truk Lagoon back in World War II. This vessel was originally used to ferry troops and carry supplies around the Pacific. Ultimately, the ship fell in 1944 at the hands of Operation Hailstone.
Fast forward 25 years later, and the legendary Jacques Cousteau discovered the wreckage in an expedition. These days, divers can easily access the wreckage, which lies 47m underwater. However, it is recommended for divers to have some kind of certification before their descent.
The Sweepstakes Wreck
One doesn’t have to be a diving expert to visit the Sweepstakes wreck in Big Tub Harbour. One only has to snorkel in Fathom Five National Marine Park to find it perfectly in place, its hull fully intact, just 20 feet deep. There are several wrecks in the area that tourists might want to explore, but “Sweeps” remains a favorite for being an easy dive.
This schooner was built in 1867 but was damaged off Cove Island while delivering loads of coal. It was tugged back to Big Tug Harbour so it could be repaired, however, the damages were so bad that the boat sank in 1885.
HMS Pandora
The HMS Pandora was an intimidating vessel if ever we saw one. This 24-gun Porcupine-class ship was a part of the Royal Navy and can trace its days of operation back to 1779. About a decade later, the warship was used to chase down “Bounty” mutineers.
While the operation was fairly successful, with the capture of 14 of the mutineers, it ultimately led to its shipwreck in the Great Barrier Reef. It is believed to be one of the most noteworthy shipwrecks to have ever happened in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, we can see a scuba diver discovering one of the water casks that was once part of the ship.
Apollo 11 Rockets
Apollo 11 is a significant part of American history for landing the first two astronauts on the moon. It was a byproduct of the space challenge between the US and the Soviet Union, and these F-1 engines were lost on the Atlantic Ocean after they successfully propelled the ship past the S-1C stage.
The recovery of the rockets took a three-week expedition by punctiliously scanning the seabed with sonar technology. This project was funded by Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos, and they were able to retrieve various parts of two out of the five rockets used.
The Vasa Shipwreck
The Vasa was a Swedish warship that sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. It wasn't until the late 1950s that the Vasa shipwreck was discovered just outside the Stockholm harbor. Finally, in 1961, the Vasa was salvaged with an almost intact hull. The shipwreck was taken to a temporary museum until 1988 when it was transferred to the Vasa Museum, a maritime museum in Stockholm.
The Vasa shipwreck, and the artifacts discovered with it, have become one of Sweden's most visited tourist spots, having been seen by over 35 million visitors since 1961. The Vasa has not only become a symbol of the Swedish Empire, but also provided incredible insight into what naval warfare, shipbuilding, and everyday life looked like back in 17th-century Sweden.
Heracleon
There is no denying that Egypt has been a hotbed for all kinds of amazing archeological discoveries over the years. And at the turn of the millennium, one of the biggest ones in recent memory was uncovered. In 2001, archeologists were excited to discover a few things: a statue of the God Hapi, some marble walls, a statue of a king, and more on the site of Heracleon.
A stele was also recovered from an underwater site here, confirming that this was in fact, an ancient Egyptian city that once stood on the Canopic branch of the Nile. During the 30th dynasty of Ancient Egypt, Pharaoh Nectanebo I issued a decree regarding payments to the temple.
Yonaguni Monument
These are also known as the Yonaguni Submarine Ruins. Located in the southernmost part of the Ryukyu Islands, in Japan, the ruins were discovered in 1986, when a group of tourism officials visited the area to observe sharks. A large population of hammerhead sharks dwells in the area, and it has now become a popular dive site despite its strong currents, thanks to the mysterious ruins.
The structure looks as if it were terraces, stepped monoliths assembled thousands of years ago for unknown reasons. However, some scientists are not all too ready to abandon the possibility that this could also be a natural formation.
The Town of Saint Thomas
These items might not look like much at first glance. But with the added context, you’ll understand just how significant they are. These are some of the remains of Saint Thomas, a Mormon pioneer town that had been flooded back in the 1930s. This is the result of a dam built on the Colorado River to create Lake Mead.
This community was home to Mormon settlers who aimed to plant cotton and spread their word to the West Coast. Fishermen first spotted the underwater concrete foundations in 2003. And just a few years later, the settlement became even more visible in light of an unprecedented drought in the region. The discovery opened up this interesting corner of history to the locals.
Ancient Epidaurus
It might seem like some simple rock formations. But this was actually man-made. This photo taken back in 2016 shows some of the remains of a Roman building located close to the Epidaurus along the Saronic Gulf. It’s 40 meters in length and stretches 15 meters wide.
A topographic mapping project was conducted in this area by the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, a vital part of the Greek Ministry of Culture. Chinese agency Xinhua News also collaborated with the local authorities on the project. Some of the other highlights of Epidaurus include the Ancient Theatre, the Abaton, the Stadion, the Gymnasium, the Roman Baths, and many more.
Blackbeard's Cannons
Edward Teach began as a pirate with the help of Capt. Benjamin Hornigold at an island in the Bahamas in 1716. He first commandeered a sloop he captured but became famous after he captured a French vessel he renamed Queen Anne’s Revenge. Later on, known as Blackbeard for his formidable appearance, he attached 40 cannons around it.
The flagship of the legendary Blackbeard has been discovered in 1996. The expedition was spearheaded by Intersal Inc., a private research company, and they spotted it just 28 feet below, close to Fort Macon State Park in North Carolina. Aside from more than two hundred thousand artifacts, more than 31 cannons have also been recovered and identified.
A Sphinx Statue
A group of divers were scouring the deep seas, off the coast of the Bahamas, back in 2014, to examine a shipwreck. They carefully studied the ins and outs of their subject, and combed its surroundings to find more clues and artifacts, when they discovered something extremely out of place- a limestone sphinx.
Nobody knows how the statue got there, but they have theorized that it must have come from a region called Wadi Rahanu, in Egypt.
Mariana Trench
The Mariana Trench is known to have the deepest natural trench in the world. Discovered in 1875 during the Challenger Expedition, located near the Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean, its maximum depth is reportedly more than 36,000 feet.
The Mariana Trench is home to what must be millions of sea creatures. Among the scary ones we know are the angler fish and supergiant crustaceans. There is definitely more down in the deep that needs better technology than we have now to explore. The possibilities for new discoveries in the area are limitless.
Giant Underwater Pyramids
In 2013, an amateur sailor named Diocletian Silva was fishing on his yacht in the Atlantic Ocean when, suddenly, the boat's radar picked up a strange signal. Silva soon realized he had stumbled upon a colossal structure resembling a pyramid, and its tip was immersed about 40 feet below water.
The pyramid, located off the coast of the Azores islands in Portugal, reaches up to 60 meters in height, with a base of over 8,000 sq. meters. The structure is so perfectly shaped that Silva believes it might belong to the legendary lost city of Atlantis. But despite several theories about its origin and existence, experts are still unable to fully understand or explain this discovery. Which just makes it all the more fascinating.
The Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon
This dive site has become very famous following a TV documentary made by French oceanographer, Jacques Cousteau. It thrills tourists for its many shipwreck sites, that remain so visible less than 49 feet deep, and with minimal ocean currents.
It is located near New Guinea, and it used to be a military base for the Japanese Imperial forces back in World War II. The sunken warships can be seen underwater, and still on its deck numerous decaying payloads of ammunition, motorcycles, cars, tanks, and a variety of other things. Along the Truk group of islands, you can also see the I-169 Shinohara submarine that was part of the fleet that attacked Pearl Harbor, in 1941.
Jiangkou
Again, this might not look like much at first glance. It looks like some kind of natural land collapse that is simply being fixed. But that’s far from the full story. In 2017, archeologists discovered more than 10,000 relics in the Chinese Sichuan town of Jiangkou. The site tells a pretty wild story.
Zhang Xianzhong led a peasant revolt, eventually conquering Sichuan in the 1600s. It didn’t take long for the Qing army to end his rule though. Legend has it that upon his defeat, more than 1000 ships sank into this river, many of which contained treasure such as golden earrings, rings, bracelets, hairpins, weapons, and many more valuables from the Ming dynasty. This discovery all but confirmed that.
Dafni, Zakynthos
There is plenty of wreckage still lying on the seabed next to the Greek island of Zakynthos. While underwater cities and ancient relics have been unearthed over the years, this discovery was a little different from all the others. Near the diving site of Dafni, you can easily spot what is now considered to be an iconic sunken motorbike.
What makes the site special is how the bike still stands upright after all these years. But besides mounting the bike for a funny photo underwater, the area is laden with beautiful formations, as well as regular sightings of scorpion fish and octopuses.
Ancient Coins in the Mediterranean
Plenty of ancient coins have been discussed over the years in all kinds of places, and here is a great example from just a few years ago. In 2021, a bunch of coins were discovered from ancient shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea by Israeli marine archeologists.
These coins, which were discovered in the waters close to the city of Caesarea, were from two separate shipwrecks, which can be traced back to the Roman and the Mamluk periods. The finds included both bronze and silver coins, as well as 500 silver coins from the Middle Ages. This part of the world has been a strategic location for all kinds of trade, so these discoveries aren’t too surprising.
The Tuna Wreck Ship
Truth be told, there isn’t that much information out there regarding the story behind this image. What we do know is that the shot was taken underwater and it shows a scuba diver swimming around what is known as the Tuna Wreck Ship.
This shipwreck is believed to be located near Island 5, a popular diving location in Thailand’s Similan National Park. Unlike other underwater discoveries on this list, this item sank not too long ago. In fact, it was the Thai authorities who deliberately sank the ship in 2003. Since then it has become a typical site for divers to find.
The SS President Coolidge
The roomy SS President Coolidge, who used to serve as a luxury liner traveling from San Francisco to Manila, and other places in the Pacific and Far East, was repurposed by the US War Department when the threat of war became alarming.
Its design was effective as a troopship, and it was used to evacuate American citizens in Hong Kong when WWII loomed. Unfortunately, it was sunk by mines as it tried to enter a military base in Espiritu Santo, now part of Vanuatu, that was heavily fortified against enemy ships and submarines. It hit two mines before the captain ordered his men to abandon the ship.
The Crystal Head of Antonio, Heraklion
You might be thinking to yourself, “What could all the first be about this random face?” Let’s break it down for you. In 2017, three shipwrecks that could be traced back to Ancient Romans were discovered close to the ancient city of Heraklion, in Abu Qir Bay. European and Egyptian archeologists collaborated on a mission to retrieve a sculpted head carved out of crystal.
Researchers believe that the head is supposed to represent a commander by the name of Antonion. In the same mission, the archeologists also found a bark of the God Osiris, as well as three gold coins from the times of Emperor Octavius Augustus.
Fabbriche di Careggine
It was the constructions of Lago di Vagli that submerged the ancient village of Fabbriche di Careggine in 1946. Up until that point, the village had been around for about 700 years. Most of the time, it rests under 34 million cubic meters of water.
But every 10 years, the churches, homes, cemeteries, and other structures of the village resurface as all the water is drained for maintenance. When it is revealed, the village is an amazing, albeit eerie sight to behold. A hollowed-out carcass of what was once a thriving community. It’s definitely worth visiting when it is visible.
Boga Wreck, Tulamben
This wreck site might not be as old as others on this list, but it's still a beautiful one to visit. A cargo ship built by the Dutch, called Boga, sunk back in 2012, lying about 16-39m on the sea bed close to the Indonesian island of Bali. Around the wreckage, many stunning marine lifeforms make up their habitat, including the likes of lobsters, corals, and octopuses.
Despite sinking a few more meters over the last few years, the ship is very much still intact. Some of its most interesting focal points include its scuba tanks, the Buddha statues inside it, its steering wheel, and a propeller. There’s even a car “parked” inside.
The Shipwreck of Uluburun
Sponge diver Mehmet Çakir had seen a shipwreck close to the east shore of Uluburun and went on to report his discovery. He accounted his experiences in the summer of 1982 with officials of Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, who made him draw a sketch of the ship.
They were able to recognize the diver’s drawing of “metal biscuits with ears,” as oxhide ingots, and they started a formal expedition themselves that lasted for more than 22,000 dives. The result was the discovery of a Bronze Age shipwreck, and many metal slabs made of copper were also discovered 50 meters from the Uluburun shore.
The Cenote Angelita 'Underwater River'
Cenotes are more commonly known as sinkholes, and they are a result of a collapse of limestone bedrock that in turn exposes the water underground. These are common in islands and low-latitude areas such as coastlines. The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is popular for its “Ring of Cenotes,” in which Cenote Angelita is a part.
Diving inside the cenote called “Little Angel” means plunging into a cavern where the ancient Maya may have held sacrifices to their gods. The enclosed water is eerily calm and clear, cloaked with mystery. A bit farther down, at approximately a hundred feet, you will see an illusory floor that is actually a border between saline and freshwater.
This Dornier 17 Bomber
During the Second World War when bombing raids were regularly conducted, the main challenge had always been to outwit or outrun defending fighter aircraft. This prompted the Germans to invent the Dornier Do 17 “fast bomber” in the mid-1930s.
It was faster and also easier to maneuver. Because of its “shoulder wing” design, the aircraft was difficult to hit, and it was capable of running reconnaissance missions as well. This photograph shows a wreck of the aircraft hauled out from the Goodwin Sands in 2013 after it was discovered in 2008. It was reportedly shot down by enemy fire on August 28, 1940.
The Antikythera Mechanism
This mechanism was found inside a box at a wreck off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera. After its discovery in 1902, scientists declared, after careful examination and restoration, that it had a gear inside it.
They say this mechanism, invented by early Greek scientists, can predict eclipses, and astronomical positions for decades in advance. This “analog computer” is said to date back to about 87 BC. It was discovered along with other artifacts such as statues, pottery, and jewelry, and it wasn’t noticed within two years of their possession.
Antiquities from Makronisos
Because of its rich history and being one of the bedrocks of civilization, Greece has had a thriving world of archeology over the years. Because of the devastating economic crisis of recent times, Greece has been collaborating with archeological organizations from other countries to (literally) dive into their underwater treasure troves to explore their history in more detail, preserve precious artifacts, and use them as opportunities for more tourism.
Here, we can see a trove of antiquities that were discovered not too far from the island of Makronisos. This is just one of many of its kind and researchers are still finding more like it until this very day.
Underwater Statues, Cancun
Jason DeCaires Taylor wanted to combine his many skills and talents to produce a new art that was both useful and unique. He integrated his skills as a sculptor, photographer, marine conservationist, and licensed diving instructor, and he came up with works that are considered among the 25 wonders of the world.
The underwater statues in Cancun serve both as an art, which would, later on, develop into a coral reef. It has also become a popular tourist destination, like most of his other projects in the first public sculpture park in the Caribbean Sea.
The Titanic
The tragedy of the RMS Titanic may have later on inspired Hollywood producers to create films surrounding its failed maiden voyage, but the subject remained a taboo for most of the twentieth century. Its accidental collision with an iceberg in 1912 caused more than 1,500 people dead, and British citizens rather avoided talking about it as if hastening to overcome the grief associated with it.
It took many decades to discover the wreck, and it wasn’t an easy undertaking. Robert Ballard and his team of explorers finally found its phantom 12,000 feet underwater, but only after so many attempts had failed, costing millions of dollars. It still remains at the bottom of the ocean albeit split in two; its bow and stern about a third of a mile apart.
The Million Dollar Point
This is a really majestic diving site that has been around for a very long time. Located off the shores of Vanuatu, the Million Dollar Point happened to be the dumping site of many American vehicles - including bulldozers, trucks, jeeps, and other machinery used during World War II.
When the war ended, they no longer had use for everything, so it went here. The locals assumed that the troops had gone insane based on this decision alone. Naturally, so many abandoned vehicles that just sunk into the sea bed became an optimal diving site for tourists and locals alike.
The Silfra Crack
What a feeling it must be to swim in between the growing gap of North America, and Europe. This widens by 2 cm each year, and a tension is created that causes the Silfra itself, and the valley; between the tectonic plates that are regularly relieved through earthquakes.
Rocks and large boulders fall to form caves deep within these schisms, because of the movement of the land, and divers love to visit this spot for a chance to explore its exceptionally clean water, and for the thrill to be in between continental plates. The Silfra Crack is located in Iceland.
The SS Umbria
You might be wondering why some kind of angel-shaped model has sunk to the bottom of the sea. But bear with us. This is actually a starboard propeller of the SS Umbria. This cargo ship, which was built in Germany, sailed all over the globe, traveling through Europe and even to Argentina. The ship fell into the hands of many countries over the years.
In 1940, under the control of Italy, it secretly contained thousands of tons worth of military equipment, including bombs and detonators upon its arrival at British-controlled Port Said. When World War II started, the British had the ship anchored and did an inspection. The British ended up forcing the Umbria to anchor at Wingate Reef close to Port Sudan, where it would eventually sink. Nowadays, it is one of the most popular wreck dives in the world.
The Kuda Giri Wreck
This looks like something out of the film "Aquaman." But this shipwreck is actually real and can be found at the bottom of the Ari Atoll in the Maldives. On the west side of a small reef, divers will find the Kuda Giri wreck, steel remnants of a ship that sunk not too long ago, back in 1994.
Since then, a wide range of marine life has been inhabiting the wreckage, including the likes of octopuses, eels, snappers, and more. Also at just 20m below the surface, it's pretty easy to reach for divers. Just make sure to bring a torch as it can get pretty dark at night time.
The Corsair Plane
While there are a number of wreckages in this part of the world, this one has probably the most fascinating backstory of them all. The Corsair Plane was used during World War II. In 1948, the plane started to sputter during a routine mission.
Thankfully, despite the engine giving way, the pilot kept his composure and performed a successful water landing, with the plane suffering minimal damage. While the pilot was safe and ended up getting rescued, the plane ultimately sank to the bottom of the ocean. Since then, the Corsair has gotten very rusty but has nevertheless been a fantastic diving spot and an opportunity for great photos.