10 Underwater Shipwrecks to Explore Around the World

The depths of the ocean afford many mysteries, not least among them the numerous underwater shipwrecks that tell ofhidden treasures. Amidst an endless trove of marine life, lie the forgotten tales that continue to fascinate divers and storytellers alike.

Divers have much to explore in the numerous wrecks that line the ocean floor across the globe, and for those still hoping to be enraptured by the bounteous life that makes its home under the sea, there are plenty of marine animals drifting through the haunting mysteries of sunken ships.

For the love of the ocean, we take a look at ten of the best underwater shipwrecks around the world, and provide a further nudge of inspiration with diving films to get your sea legs moving.

Search flights to Queensland

1. For the Fish: SS Yongala, Australia

The SS Yongala, a 109-metre long luxury passenger ship, sank off the coast of Queensland during a cyclone in 1911, taking with it 122 people, a racehorse called Moonshine and a red Lincolnshire bull. Because the ship had no telegraph facilities, it could not be warned of the bad weather ahead.

Due to official protection under the Historic Shipwrecks Act, divers are not allowed into the wreck, situated in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, about 19 kilometres off Cape Bowling Green.

However, the abundance of marine life will keep divers more than happy. The ship lies in 15 to 28 metres of water on its starboard side, and flitting around and about the wreck is a host of underwater life including manta rays, eagle rays, sea snakes, octopuses, turtles, bull sharks, tiger sharks, clownfish and coral.

Sea More: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

2. For the Fakers: James Bond Wrecks, Bahamas

In Hollywood, you have to fake it till you make it, which is just what the film crews of a couple of James Bond flicks decided to do. Located in Nassau, New Providence, the James Bond “wrecks” are some of the most famous wreck dives in the Bahamas. The novelty of this diving experience is that these wrecks are not quite real – they were purposely placed underwater by film crews. Popular diving sites include the framework that passed as the Vulcan Bomber in Thunderball (starring Sean Connery as Bond), home to turtles, barracuda and shoals of reef fish. The Tears of Allah, which featured in Never Say Never Again (also with Sean Connery), was a 27-metre freighter used for drug smuggling in the Caribbean. It was confiscated by authorities, used for diving expeditions and eventually sold to film producers.

Sea More: Thunderball (1965)

3. For the Holidaymakers: MS Zenobia, Cyprus

No lives were lost on this roll-on roll-off ferry, which sank on its maiden voyage in June 1980. The MS Zenobia lies on its side outside Lanarca harbour, off the coast of Cyprus. At the time of the wreck, the ferry was transporting more than 120 vehicles, which are still down in the water, along with plenty of marine life. The dive offers a range of challenges, from a 16-metre dive for beginners all the way to daring dives within the lower car deck or the engine room.

Sea More: The Big Blue (1988)

4. For the Drama: Bianca C, Grand Anse, Grenada

The 180-metre long cruise liner Bianca C sank in October 1961 after it suffered a boiler-room explosion while anchored in St. George’s Harbour. A fire erupted and raged for two days, whereupon the Royal Navy arrived and took the ship in tow, only to sink in 50 metres of water. All save one of the 673 occupants survived. The Bianca C is the largest divable wreck in the Caribbean, home to an abundance of green sea turtles and great for advanced divers.

Sea More: The Abyss (1989)

5. For the History: Tabarka, Scapa Flow, Orkney, Scotland

The Tabarka was a block ship, deliberately sunk to stop German U-boats entering Scapa Flow during World War II. One of the last ships to be sunk, it now rests upside down and has numerous entry points. The ship rests in Burra Sound in 15 metres of water on its starboard side. Fast currents and turbulence around the wreck make for an adventurous dive.

Sea More: The Frogmen (1951)

6. For the Beginners: USS Kittiwake, Cayman Islands

The 76.5-metre USS Kittiwake was purpose-sunk off Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach in 2011. Doors and hatches have been removed, giving each room at least one exit point. This removal of hazards, along with shallow waters, makes the ship a great exploration for first-time wreck divers.

Sea More: The Blue Planet (2001)

7. For the Grandiose: SS President Coolidge, Vanuatu

Before World War II turned it into a troop carrier the 200-metre SS President Coolidge was a luxury ocean liner. Painted gunmetal grey, it was stripped of much of its finery for the war. However, a few stylish flourishes remained, such as the fireplace in the main smoking salon. On a mission delivering the 43rd Infantry to Espiritu Santo in New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), the ship struck so-called friendly mines upon approaching the harbour. Thinking on his feet, the captain reefed the ship and saved nearly all of the 5,440 troops aboard. Shaken by several earthquakes to boot, the wreck nevertheless retains plenty for divers of all levels to explore. The largest wreck in the world – with beach access off the island of Espiritu Santo – it is filled with jeeps, artillery, rifles, gas masks and helmets.

Sea More: 20 000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)

8. For the Non-Divers: Eduard Bohlen, Namibia

The Eduard Bohlen, which was wrecked on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast in 1909, is an anomaly on the list as it is not actually underwater. But when it comes to shipwrecks, the Skeleton Coast is unmissable. It is also a perfect destination for those who can’t, or don’t want to, dive. Scattered with the skeletons of ships that have run aground, the hostile coast is a veritable ships’ graveyard. The Eduard Bohlen ran aground in thick fog just south of the Skeleton Coast, and lies about 800 metres inland, where the desert duels with the sea.

Sea More: Coast of Skeletons (1965)

9. For the Bikers: SS Thistlegorm

In 1941, two bombs sunk this British Merchant Navy ship in the Red Sea near Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Loaded with supplies from World War II, the wreck lies at a depth of 30 metres with the stern tilted on its port side. Divers will find themselves floating over and above Bedford trucks and Norton 16H motorcycles. The wreck was discovered in the 1950s by the legendary French diver and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau, who raised the ship’s bell, the captain’s safe and a motorcycle from the wreck.

Sea More: The Silent World (1956)

10. For More War: San Francisco Maru, Truk Lagoon

Truk Lagoon has over 60 wrecks, and the San Francisco Maru is one of the most renowned. Also known as the Million Dollar Wreck, it is one of the best wrecks for spotting supplies and stories of World War II. The ship was sunk in Eten Anchorage in 1944, and the wreck discovered by Jacques Cousteau in 1969. Filled with trucks, mines, torpedoes, bombs and tanks – including three Japanese Type-95 light tanks that still remain on deck – this is a wreck where the phrase “look but don’t touch” is to be heeded with extreme care.

Sea More: The Silent Enemy (1958)

Ship Names Explained

MS – motor ship

SS – steamship

HMS – His/Her Majesty’s Ship

USS – United States Ship

(Feature image: TANAKA Juuyoh (田中十洋))