Amazing underwater attractions

 
 
 

  • Bikini Atoll

    The atoll of 23 islands used to be the test site for a series of nuclear bomb detonations. Between 1945 and 1950, 20 naval warships and submarines were sunk, as well as an aircraft carrier called the USS Saratoga. Declared clear of nuclear radiation in 1996, the atoll with its sobering underwater museum of war, is now a popular spot for advanced divers. The USS Saratoga and Japanese battleship HIJMS Nagato are the two most prominent. Photo: travelcheckpoint.com

  • Yonaguni Monument, Okinaw, Japan

    A diver who was actually tracking hammerhead sharks discovered these mysterious, geometrical structures in 1987. Since then there's been a lot of disagreement over its origins. Japanese scientists proclaimed it the lost continent of Mu. Dissenters chalked it up as a unique, though natural phenomenon like the Giants Causeway in Ireland. Photo paradiseintheworld.com

  • Vaersenbaai Car Piles, Curaçao

    As the name suggests, Vaersenbaai’s underwater attraction is basically a sunken vehicle graveyard. Dumped atop a healthy existing reef in the 1960’s in an ill-planned effort to create an artificial reef, the Car Pile is gradually being reclaimed by the sea. Nowadays the reef is an integrated wonderland of natural sea life and 1940s cars, trucks and construction equipment. Photo: sorsaka.blogspot.com

  • The Florida Keys Shipwreck Heritage Trail

    A water-based line of notable wreck sites that stretches from Key Largo to Key West. In recent years, centuries old historic wrecks have been joined by ships that were intentionally sunk to create artificial reefs and now are home to 55 varieties of delicate coral and nearly 500 species of fish. It is suitable for both diving and snorkeling. Photo: indiana.edu

  • Christ of the Abyss, Italy

    The original of this submerged bronze statue of Jesus is located in the Mediterranean Sea off San Fruttuoso between Camogli and Portofino on the Italian Riviera. It was placed in the water on 22 August 1954 at an approximately 17-metres depth, and stands 2.5 metres tall. Various other casts of the statue are located in other places worldwide. Photo: instyleabroad.wordpress.com

  • Jules' Undersea Lodge, Key Largo, Florida

    While Dubai is raring to start construction on an impressive, space-age-looking underwater hotel, Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo Florida, a 1970s marine research station turned campy two-bed, one-bath lodge keeps still has the upper hand as the world’s only true underwater hotel. Guests must be PADI certified.

  • Lake Lygnstøylsvatnet, Norway

    Strangely, this lake was formed in May 1908 when a massive landslide ripped a huge hole in the earth and at the same time pushed a close-by village inside. Divers can explore remains of alpine huts and swim under a stone bridge that was used to cross the river before it was inundated. Photo: Visitnorway.com

  • Museo Subacuático de Arte, Cancún, Mexico

    The popular Mexican resort of Cancun may be famous for its party spirit and marine park, but these days the series of over 400 incredible sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor draws its fair share of curious visitors. The project began in November 2009 and has grown phenomenally over the past few years. The sculptures are made from with pH-neutral marine concrete and are based on members of the local community. Photo itravelgotraveltoo.com

  • Baia, Italy

    Once a super popular Roman seaside resort in the Bay of Naples, nowadays the fashionable neighbourhood lies beneath 15 meters of water due to the gradual raising or lowering of earth due to filling magma chambers. Guided tours for both snorkelers and divers cover eight underwater sites like Villa Protiro and Portus Julius. Intricate black-and-white mosaic floors, loose statues, and frescoes mingle with coral and fish. Photo Italytripwow.tripadvisor.com

  • Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia

    It served as a Japanese military and naval base during the Second World War, often harbouring over a thousand ships at any one time. Obviously this made it a prime target for Allied attacks, and the inevitable happened in 1944 when US forces amassed an army to mount a surprise attack on the Japanese. Over 70 ships were sunk. Today, it’s one of the world’s prime wreck-diving locations. Photo: diving.abyss.com.au

  • Treasures of Alexandria’s Eastern Harbour

    Over the past few years, this Egyptian has become quite a popular spot for historians, archeologists and travellers, with the discovery of incredible ancient artifacts. Among these are 56-ton massive granite blocks believed to be from the Pharos Lighthouse and trinket from Cleopatra’s royal boudoir, including a headless sphinx. It is believed that much of the ancient city was destroyed in a tsunami. Photo tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com

  • Vanuatua's underwater post office

    The South Pacific Island is an incredibly popular site for tourists of all ages and experience levels to post a water-proof postcard to friends and family elsewhere. Situated within the Hideaway Island marine sanctuary, the Post Office sits in around three metres of water and both divers and snorkellers are able to post special “waterproof postcards”. Photo: aussiesemester.wordpress.com