Underwater cultural heritage is enormously rich and has immense potential for exploration and survey by both professional archaeologists and recreational enthusiasts.  In recent years, it has attracted increasing attention from the scientific community and the general public and more people each year want to dive with a purpose on some of the World's most interesting dive sites.

It is estimated that over 3Million Undiscovered Wrecks are spread across ocean floors around the globe.

Over the centuries, entire cities have been swallowed by the waves, and thousands of ships have perished at sea.  Nowadays their remains constitute a precious archaeological heritage of utmost cultural importance. Many sites have not been touched for centuries or even millennia and biological material is often much better preserved than when on land due to the lack of oxygen, which would have facilitated its deterioration.  This makes these sites unique.

Shipwrecks:
Famous vessels include among others:
  • The Armada of Philip II of Spain
  • The Fleet of Kublai Khan
  • The Ships of Christopher Columbus
  • The Spanish galleons that connected America to Spain
Underwater Ruins:
The remains of countless ancient buildings are now submerged. While Atlantis remains a legend, archaeological underwater sites the size of Pompeii have been discovered.  Famous sites include:
  • The bay of Alexandria, with remnants of the lighthouse and Cleopatra’s palace
  • Parts of the ancient Carthage, now submerged
  • Parts of the world heritage site at Mahabalipuram, India
  • The site of Dwarka, India
  • Jamaica’s Port Royal, destroyed by an earthquake in 1692
Caves:
Underwater Cultural Heritage also encompasses artefacts preserved in flooded caves.
Such sites include:
  • Cenotes in Mexico (Chichen Itza)
  • Neolithic rock art caves in the Black Sea
Landscapes:
Some of the world's best preserved prehistoric landscapes survive at the bottom of the North Sea. Dating from approx. 50,000-60,000 years ago, they also encompass Neanderthal hunters' kill and camp sites.  It is estimated that hundreds or even thousands of square miles of post-ice-age, prehistoric landscapes may in this way have survived.

All Facts & Figures from the UNESCO Underwater Heritage Website
www.unesco.org