The island of Alonissos and the Pagasetic Gulf in the Magnesia region will host the first underwater museums in Greece.
Classical era shipwrecks and ones from the Byzantine periods are planned to become underwater museums, thus combining diving with antiquities, although the time frame of the project has not become clear.
The four shipwrecks to be turned into museums are: The wreck on the island of Peristera near Alonissos (5th century BC), the Byzantine wreck on the islet of Kikinthos (dating from the 9th to the 13th century), the shipwreck at Akra Glaros (Byzantine period) and the wreck at Telegraphos (4th century AD).
Guests will be permitted to dive up to 40 metres in all the museums while they will be escorted by archaeologists and divers.
The underwater museums are part of the BLUEMED European project, which focuses on raising awareness for the environmental protection of the Mediterranean, while also aiding in the preservation of underwater cultural heritage, and ultimately making similar sites accessible to the public.
Apart from protecting underwater antiquities, submerged museums also help in prolonging the tourist season while boosting the economy by adding more job positions.