The Earth’s oceans and seas cover more than 70% of the planet’s surface and still 95% of this realm remains unexplored by human life. Life in the oceans is unrivalled in its beauty and yet we have better maps of Mars than we do of the ocean floor. Considering that there are more artefacts and remnants of history in the ocean than in all of the world’s museums combined, it seems a shame not to explore its hidden treasures. Cruising has become a welcome alternative to hotels, so why not take advantage of some time on the water to step back in time and get up close and personal with history. We invite you to read on to discover the Mediterranean’s three greatest underwater attractions, which, at relatively shallow depths are accessible even to those who are not expert divers.
Cleopatra’s Palace, Alexandria, Egypt
Once upon a time, this city was no more than a legend, but a team of marine archaeologists unearthed the ruins of Cleopatra’s ancient kingdom off the shores of the modern-day Alexandria in 1998. Earthquakes had resigned the Pharaoh’s palace to the depths of the Mediterranean 1,600 years ago, but now it is possible explore one of the richest archaeological sites in the world. Vast stone monuments, sphinxes, statues and temples lie upright and perfectly preserved at the bottom of the sea, while coins and other ancient Egyptian artefacts scatter the sea bed. Given the shallow depths of the site at just 5 to 8 metres underwater, you are guaranteed plenty of time to discover the wonders of Cleopatra’s Palace.
Pavlopetri, Greece
A short trip from the southern coast of mainland Greece lies the oldest submerged city in the world, dating back 5,000 years. Pavlopetri thrived for 2,000 years during the era of the birth of western civilization, meaning this is a UNESCO world heritage site particularly rich in history. Owing to the fact that its location was unknown until 1967 and that it remains relatively inaccessible, the city, a mere 4 meters underwater, is incredibly well maintained. The site also remains uniquely interesting to oceanographers and historians due to its intricate design and advanced infrastructure that surpasses even that of some modern civilisations.
Copyright © 2014 by A Luxury Travel Blog. This article was written by Daniel Barber and originally published at A Luxury Travel Blog
