Gelibolu Historical Underwater Park becomes new destination for diving enthusiasts

With the initiatives of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Çanakkale Battles, and the Gelibolu Historical Area Directorate, shipwrecks dating back to the First World War, which were brought into diving tourism in 2021, have become one of the favorite routes for those who want to explore history underwater.

The Gelibolu Peninsula is now attracting attention not only with its monuments and memorials on land but also with shipwrecks carrying traces of 109 years underwater.

In this region, namely the Gelibolu Peninsula, there are sunken warships. Diving is practiced at 14 points in this area, and sunken ships such as “HMS Majestic, Massena and Saghalien remains, and Lundy” can be found at points like Gelibolu Historical Underwater Park, Tekke Cove (W Beach). Additionally, shipwrecks like “HMS Louis,” “S.S. Milo,” and “HMS Triumph” are also here.

“HMS Lundy,” one of the few remaining intact wrecks

Located between Büyük Kemikli and Küçük Kemikli in Suvla Bay at a depth of 27 meters, the “HMS Lundy” wreck, which has a high vitality rate, exhibits colorful sponges, grouper, moray eels, sea anemones, scorpionfish, lobsters, bugs, sea rabbits, and mullets.

Turkey’s most famous wreck, the “HMS Majestic”

With the onset of the First World War, the “HMS Majestic” joined the Allied Navy established for the Çanakkale Battles. The 128-meter-long battleship, while bombarding Turkish troops in Seddülbahir, was torpedoed and sunk on May 27, 1915, by the German submarine “U-21” commanded by Otto Hersing.

“We are ready to be the locomotive of diving tourism in Turkey”

The President of the Çanakkale Battles Gelibolu Historical Area, stated that they had established an underwater park covering 150 square kilometers in Çanakkale as a result of a very special effort. Pointing out the importance of the region, Kaşdemir said, “With our latest efforts, this area has now become completely preserved, it has become an underwater park where there is no need to drop anchors or hooks. We are very ambitious, very excited. The Gelibolu Historical Underwater Park is poised to become one of the world’s most important diving spots in the very near future. We invite everyone to this beauty, and we once again express that we are waiting for all diving enthusiasts underwater in Gelibolu.”