Türkiye is home to many great diving spots, but few can compare with the new Historic Gallipoli Underwater Park in Canakkale. Opened on October 2nd, this long-awaited attraction offers divers the chance to take a fascinating journey into the past and explore the wrecks of sunken World War I warships and submarines.

HMS Majestic p/c Directorate of Gallipoli Historic Site

The Historic Gallipoli Underwater Park in Canakkale

For many seafarers, diving is par for the course. Many superyacht guests and crew enjoy scuba diving, and wrecks are always a highlight.

Those familiar with the waters around Canakkale in Türkiye’s Marmara region will know there were several no-go areas under Turkish military guard. Back in 1915, during World War I, these waters were the battleground of the Gallipoli Campaign, where allied powers lost against the Ottoman Empire. During that time, many battleships sank to the depths of the Dardanelles, leaving explosives scattered across a large area. This rendered the waters unsafe for diving to all but marine researchers and those with special licenses.

In 2017, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism received a mandate to manage the site. The ministry’s Directorate of Gallipoli Historic Site was set up, and work began to locate, document and remove the dangerous explosives and make the site safe for exploration.

p/c Directorate of Gallipoli Historic Site

Highlights of Türkiye’s historic diving park

The Gallipoli site will open twelve of sixteen large ships to divers, in addition to the Bebek Rocks where you can observe coral reefs and marine life. Highlights include HMS Majestic, HMS Louis, HMS Ocean and a minesweeper called Lundy that sank post-WWI in 1930.

HMS Majestic p/c Directorate of Gallipoli Historic Site

HMS Majestic (1895)

HMS Majestic is the largest of nine pre-dreadnought battleships at the new Galippoli park. Commissioned in 1895, she was part of the Royal Navy 7^th Battle Squadron from 1912 and was dispatched to serve in the Dardanelles Campaign in early 1915. HMS Majestic supported the Allied Campaign and was involved in the bombardments of Turkish forts until she fell due to a U-boat torpedo and sank near Cape Helles on May 27^th 1915. A total of 49 men lost their lives.

HMS Louis (1913)

The British Royal Navy Laforey-class destroyer HMS Louis sank in Suvla Bay on October 31^st 1915. She was taken down by heavy Turkish artillery, but thankfully all crew survived and were rescued by Royal Navy destroyers.

HMS Ocean and HMS Irresistible (1898)

The Royal Navy’s fourth HMS Ocean was another pre-dreadnought warship, but smaller and faster than those in Majestic-class. She was assigned to the Dardanelles Campaign in February 1915 and given the task of salvaging the battleship HMS Irresistible, which had taken heavy damage due to a mine in Erenkoy Bay. Ocean evacuated the surviving crew of Irresistible but was struck by a mine whilst returning to open water. Ocean took extensive damage leaving destroyers to rescue her survivors and HMS Ocean to sink in Morto Bay.

p/c Directorate of Gallipoli Historic Site

Several ships remain unlisted, and there’s lots more to see

According to the Directorate of Gallipoli Historic Site, preparations for opening the underwater park have taken three years, and documentation of the ships at the 58 sq mile site continues, with several vessels remaining unlisted. Divers at every level are welcome to the site, and the wrecks range in depth from 3m to 350m. Dives will, however, need to be guided by local professionals certified by the Turkish Underwater Sports Federation.

If you would like to know more about Historic Gallipoli Underwater Park in Canakkale, please CONTACT US.

(Sources: Historic Gallipoli Underwater Park, Wikipedia, TRT World.)