Under the water's surface, there's a whole world to explore. From submerged cities that date back hundreds of years, dazzlingly white caves that resemble underwater cathedrals to museums and abandoned planes, we've trawled the watery depths to find the world's most amazing subaquatic sights.
Read on to discover the world's best attractions hiding underwater...
The world's first underwater park in the world set the wave of underwater galleries rolling when it opened in May 2006. It's anchored two miles (3.2km) from Grenada’s capital, in the Molinere Beauséjour Marine Protected Area. Here, 75 sculptures by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor, featuring both human and still life form – including a ring of children holding hands (pictured) and the contemplative “Lost Correspondent” sat with his typewriter – dot the sun-dappled seabed.
DeCaires Taylor's latest exhibition in the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park features 25 spectacular life-size sculptures adorned with jewels, sequins and even feathers. The elaborately dressed dancers, entitled Coral Carnival, were inspired by Grenada's vibrant annual carnival, Spicemas, and it's the first time colour has been used on underwater work. The sculptures, which are individually placed 9.8 feet (3m) below the surface of the Caribbean Sea, are purposely textured to allow marine life to colonise and thrive.
Elsewhere, Jason deCaires Taylor's 2020 creation Museum of Underwater Art (Moua) on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is a two-hour boat ride from the Queensland coast. The project was designed to highlight the danger the reef is in, with the sculptures made from special cement and stainless steel to encourage coral growth. The spectacular under-the-sea exhibits are open to divers and snorkellers.
Set just off Italy's western coast, near San Fruttuoso, this was the original underwater Jesus statue, a figure whose copies can now also be glimpsed in locations around the world. Now coral-encrusted, the statue – arms outstretched, face raised to the heavens – is eight feet tall (2.4m) and set 56 feet (17m) below the water. The sculpture was created by Guido Galletti and commissioned by Italian diver Duilio Marcante in 1954 to honour his friend and fellow diver Dario Gonzatti who died diving a few years prior.
Just off the coast of Aqaba on Jordan’s Red Sea coast is a surprising collection of military hardware. Tanks, a helicopter and a troop carrier have been sunk and arranged to mimic a battle formation. Lying 50 to 90 feet (15-28m) below the surface, the museum opened in July 2019 and welcomes both divers and snorkellers. Much care was taken not to disturb marine life during the construction, with any hazardous material and chemicals removed.
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Set 60 miles (97km) from the coast of Belize, surrounded by shallow turquoise waters and encircled by an atoll, this perfectly cylindrical sinkhole blinks from the depths like a vast, inky eye. A dazzling sight from above at 1,000 feet wide (304m) and more than 400 feet deep (122m), this is one of the world’s largest submarine sinkholes. It was made famous when the explorer Jacques Cousteau filmed it in the 1970s and today the Belize Barrier Reef, of which The Great Blue Hole is part, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stretching from Key Largo to Key West, the 120-mile-long (193km) Florida Keys Shipwreck Trail follows a series of notable wrecks from ancient Spanish galleons to more recent military ships. Highlights include the oldest wreck, the San Pedro, which once formed part of a 1733 Spanish treasure fleet. The latest vessel, the intentionally sunk USS Vandenberg, is a 524-foot-long (160m) missile tracker that boasts vast radar dishes.
When the Soviet Union fell, diver Vladimir Borumensky collected discarded statues of Communist leaders and began dropping them into the sea at Cape Tarkhankut. At first these busts, which include Lenin, Stalin and Marx, formed the 'Alley of Leaders' – a subaquatic line-up of historic figures from the USSR. Over time, these have been added to by fellow divers and now more than 50 sculptures pepper the seabed, forming an eclectic hoard ranging from London’s Tower Bridge to the Eiffel Tower.
Proving that some of the most incredible underwater experiences don’t have to be out at sea, Mexico’s Riviera Maya is riddled with a vast network of cenotes – striking sinkholes that plunge deep into the ground. Of these, Dos Ojos (or "Two Eyes", a reference to the cave's double entrance) is one of the most striking, a cavernous cenote between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. While it's usually possible to admire the fish and rock formations that fill the crystal-clear waters of Dos Ojos with snorkelling gear, scuba divers can go further and explore the dark tunnels that lead off from the main pool.
Set in shallow, calm waters just 131 feet (40m) from the northeastern coast of Bali, this wreck site has attracted both advanced divers and snorkellers over the years. Once a supply ship, the USAT Liberty was hit by a Japanese torpedo during the Second World War and ended up stranded on a beach, until in 1963 a volcanic eruption pushed it back into the sea. In the years since, marine life has reclaimed the ship, transforming it into an underwater haven cloaked in corals that attract a dazzling variety of sea creatures.
For many of us a visit to the post office is one of life's more mundane tasks, right? Not so in Vanuatu, where the world’s first, and only, underwater post office lurks nine feet (2.8m) below the water’s surface just off the coastline in the Hideaway Island Marine Sanctuary. Visitors can snorkel or scuba dive down to the fibreglass postal booth and drop off a special waterproof postcard here, which can then be sent to anywhere in the world.
The Great Lakes are said to hold more than 6,000 shipwrecks, most of which have never been accessed by people. One of the most captivating though lies in the shallow waters of Ontario’s Lake Huron. Wonderfully preserved, the Sweepstakes is a 19th-century schooner that sank in 1885. Divers and snorkellers can explore the site, however those who don’t fancy getting wet won’t have to miss out: glass-bottomed boats drift over the site revealing the ship’s vast hulk resting hauntingly just below the water's surface.
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In an area packed with dive sites, the mystery-shrouded Hilma Hooker is the most fascinating. Originally a cargo ship, it first sank in 1975 but was rescued and – so the story goes – became involved in drug smuggling after it was later found carrying a hefty stash of illegal substances. The case went to trial but was never resolved and the ship sank during proceedings in 1984. Now in its final resting place, large tubular sponges have repopulated the hull of the 236-foot (72m) Dutch freighter and barracuda, parrotfish and angelfish are frequent visitors.
One of South Australia's most striking freshwater diving sites isn’t just for those who don scuba gear. Thanks to the water-filtering limestone that encircles it, Piccaninnie Ponds boast a stunning visibility of up to 131 feet (40m) meaning that snorkellers get to see a lot here too. Starting as a shallow lake, the water gradually reaches The Chasm, where snorkellers can drift over the dramatic 115-foot (35m) sheer-walled, algae-coated canyon. Scuba divers can go on to explore the Cathedral, a spectacular underwater cavern surrounded by gleaming limestone walls.
Dubai is famed for its ability to dream up the impossible, so it shouldn't really come as a surprise that it's home to one of the most unique places to stay in the world. The Palm’s five-star Atlantis hotel is renowned for its aquatic attractions – it has a water park and an aquarium – and adding to that watery roster are its underwater suites. Guests can wake up to a marine world of lurking sharks, kaleidoscopic schools of fish and swooping stingrays, all projected onto floor-to-ceiling windows.
Ginnie Springs' water clarity is legendary, making it a highly popular freshwater diving site. Located on the Santa Fe River in High Springs, Florida, the highlight of a dive is The Ballroom, a large cavern filled with turquoise water that's dazzlingly illuminated by sunlight filtering through the entrance. Just beyond this, more experienced divers can explore the Devil’s Springs, the gateway to a maze-like cave system twisted with more than 30,000 feet (9,000m) of passages.
Set in the Ras Mohammed National Park, the diving at the southernmost point of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula is some of the best in the Red Sea. Shark Reef is an area abundant in reef fish, which dive between gorgonian fans and colourful corals, and larger fish like sharks and rays. Just beyond this is the unusual sight of the Yolanda shipwreck, a cargo ship that was carrying ceramics when it grounded in 1980. Strewn around the ship are a bounty of rust-speckled toilets and bathtubs that litter the surrounding seabed.
This underwater cemetery lies just off Florida’s Key Biscayne. Around 40 feet (12m) below the water's surface, the structures have been modelled on Atlantis, complete with a majestic entrance guarded by lions. The cemetery is still expanding, initially holding 850 “placements” (cremated remains mixed with concrete moulded into marine shapes) with plans to eventually cover 16 acres of once-barren ocean floor, transforming it into the largest ever man-made reef.
One of the world’s most mysterious underwater sites, the Yonaguni ‘Iseki' stones have divided opinion since their discovery in 1987. Off the remote island of Yonaguni, at a depth of 82 feet (25m) lurks what appears to be a vast prehistoric structure: huge rock slabs carved at right angles and shaped into a pyramid. To some, this is the workings of nature, the result of an area known for its tectonic activity. To others, these are the remains of a Japanese Atlantis, an ancient city that sank after an earthquake about 2,000 years ago.
This place offers divers something utterly unique: the chance to swim between two continental plates. Formed in 1789 by an earthquake, the fissure between the North American and Eurasian plates is filled by a mix of underground spring water and pure glacial meltwater, which results in sparkling underwater visibility. Set in Iceland’s Thingvellir National Park, this is a living site, with the chasm widening by 2cm each year and the shifting Earth creating new caverns and tunnels. Four to six-hour tours are available from the capital, Reykjavík.
The most famous shipwreck of all time, the RMS Titanic has rested two miles (3.2km) below the Atlantic since its fateful maiden voyage in 1912. In August 2019, divers explored the wreck for the first time in 15 years and discovered that it's deteriorating from bacteria and salt corrosion. The starboard side of the officer's quarters has disappeared and the divers predict it won’t be long before the entire ship is lost.
The Maldives is getting rather good at underwater firsts – it was home to the world’s first underwater restaurant back in 2005, and now is also the site of the first spa to offer subaquatic treatment rooms. Part of the luxury Huvafen Fushi resort, this spa has two rooms where guests can enjoy a signature treatment (using products with an emphasis on sea minerals, of course) while taking in views of the surrounding ocean depths swirling with rainbow-coloured fish and elegantly twirling manta rays.
During the winter, Austria’s Green Lake is just that: a small, relatively shallow lake set in a park that offers a number of scenic hiking trails. Yet every summer something strange happens here. Snowmelt from the surrounding Karst Mountains floods the park, transforming it completely into a vast body of water that envelops 43,000 square feet (4,000sqm). Submerged in 39 feet (12m) of crystal-clear water are trees, benches, bridges and footpaths, creating an underwater world that's suddenly off-limits to anyone without diving gear.
Located in Tobermory – the scuba diving capital of Canada – this underwater attraction is one that snorkellers can typically enjoy too. Set in the Bruce Peninsula National Park, the Grotto is tucked at the edge of Indian Head Cove, a site that requires a 30-minute hike, which ends in a bit of a shimmy down the rocks to get there. The Grotto is a stunning sight, a deep turquoise pool set in an expansive stretch of swirling azure hues. For divers, the Grotto can be explored even further; two entrances lead to a sunken cavern submerged in 20 feet (6m) of water.
One of the world’s best Second World War wreck dive sites, Chuuk Lagoon (formerly named Truk Lagoon) was a stronghold of Japan’s Imperial Navy, which in February 1944 was bombed into oblivion in a surprise attack. The remains of the event now dot the ocean floor forming a coral-encrusted ghostly collection of over 50 ships and around 260 planes. Among the shattered hulls, rusted artillery and discarded ammunition are prowling reef sharks and iridescent gatherings of visiting fish.
Coron Bay, off Palawan island, holds some of the world's best-preserved Second World War wrecks. Like Chuuk Lagoon, this was the site of a US bombing campaign against the Japanese, the results of which – half a dozen wartime vessels – now dot the seafloor. The most highly regarded are Okikawa Maru, a 551-foot (168m) long oil tanker, and the Akitsushima, a heavily armed ship complete with a seaplane-launching crane.
Not far from Italy’s famous Pompeii lies the ruins of a lesser-known city, that of the submerged world of Baia. It's an underwater city of mosaicked floors, intricate frescoes, chiselled statues and the key sites of Villa Protiro and Portus Julius. So what happened here? The city was the victim of bradyseism – the gradual lowering and raising of the Earth – a process that means Baia may not remain underwater forever. Pictured are the remains of statues from Emperor Claudius' nymphaeum or grotto.
Read on to discover Pompeii's secrets that are only just being uncovered
Often called the 'Atlantis of the East', the submerged city of Shicheng lies 131 feet (40m) under Qiandao Lake in China's Zhejiang Province. Unlike its mythical counterpart, Shicheng was intentionally flooded in 1959 to allow for a dam and hydroelectric station. The city was all but forgotten until it was rediscovered in 2001 and interest in Shicheng began to grow. This wonderfully preserved 600-year-old city, an architectural time warp of China’s Imperial past complete with stonework lions, phoenixes and dragons and five imposing entrance gates is best experienced by advanced divers.
Built in 2005, this place set the benchmark for underwater luxury. At the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island's restaurant Ithaa, the world’s first all-glass underwater restaurant, there’s no need to worry about booking the best seat in the house – the panoramic windows ensure all 14 guests usually have a magnificent experience. Submerged 16 feet (5m) below sea level, this high-class restaurant promises sophisticated cuisine paired with once-in-a-lifetime ocean views.
Thanks to its annual film festival the French resort of Cannes is used to welcoming well-known faces. But now instead of Hollywood celebrities the latest stars to grace the town are six, 10-tonne pH-neutral cement sculptures, part of Jason deCaires Taylor's museum situated between Cannes and the Île Sainte-Marguerite. Each face is cast from the profiles of Cannes residents and includes schoolchildren and a fisherman. The project took over four years to complete, with rubbish cleared from the site to make way for the artworks. Aimed at snorkellers, entry is free.
The world's deepest swimming pool opened in Dubai in 2021 and it's a world of its own. At a record-breaking 197 feet (60m) deep, holding an enormous 3.1 million gallons (14 million litres) of water, Deep Dive Dubai will offer numerous free-diving and scuba diving experiences for all abilities. In its depths, you'll find an incredible 'sunken city' complete with an abandoned streetscape, garage, arcade and apartment. It'll be illuminated by mood lighting and includes NASA-developed filtering technology.
The world's second-largest barrier reef lies in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Belize. Covering an area of 370 square miles (960sq km), it's home to numerous endangered species, from the hawksbill turtle to the West Indian Manatee. And now there's an attraction which aims to protect and enhance it. The Wit is a 375-foot (114m) concrete ship which was submerged near Blackbird Caye resort in December 2021 to create an artificial reef and diving destination. The hope is that it will increase the area's biodiversity and detract divers away from fragile natural habitats.
Started in 2009 with the works of Jason deCaires Taylor, this underwater sculpture gallery populated with 500 life-sized sculptures plunged into the waters off Cancún is enchanting. Built with materials to promote marine life, the sculptures are being enveloped in a living reef, taking the pressure off strained nearby sites. The effect is a lost world of coral-encrusted figures including a man slouched on a sofa, expectant huddles of people and an abandoned car, all surrounded by shoals of fish.
Divers can explore this abandoned Lockheed Martin L1011 Tristar plane, which lies at the bottom of the Red Sea in the Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan. The passenger plane, which stopped being used in the early 00s, was intentionally sunk in 2019 to create an artificial reef that encourages coral growth and marine life. Professional divers, such as Brett Hoelzer, who took this picture, can even enter the wreck to see the plane's remarkably preserved, coral-lined interior.