Famous Underwater City In The World | I Bet You Didn’t Know About Them | Submarine Tourism
Another feather gets added to the laurel of tourism in India as Gujarat launches the first submarine tourism in the country. This will take you on a tour of the underwater city of Dwarka and allow you to explore the marine life and myths around Bet Dwarka (Beyt Dwarka).
The Gujarat Government, in collaboration with the Mazgaon Dock Limited (MDL), operates this submarine tourism facility, and it takes inspiration from the Titanic Submersible Expedition.
This is an excellent example of religious tourism in India, meeting with advanced technology and amenities. And rightly, Saurabh Pardhi, the Managing Director of Gujarat Tourism, calls this initiative “different,” with the submarine taking you 100 meters below the water.
Moreover, this initiative got the much-needed tourism push with PM Modi diving into the ancient ruins and underwater city of Dwarka during his visit to inaugurate the Sudarshan Setu in the state.
Now, Dwarka is the first destination in the country to have a submarine tourism facility. However, many such underwater cities exist around the world, and they tell tales of bygone eras, humanity, and things we don’t know about.
With a curious mind and the deepest desire to explore the unknown, here goes our Dream and Travel guide.
Underwater Cities In The World You Didn’t Know About
Have you heard of the fictional underwater city of Atlantis? The great philosopher Plato came up with this idea of a Utopian City that existed around 9000 years ago. He said that, with time, the citizens became greedy and immoral, and they got cursed by the Gods.
Thus, the city sank. However, he did not mention under which sea the city was located.
While you cannot visit the underwater city of Atlantis, the following destinations promise the most fulfilling experience.
1. Dwarka, India
In the state of Gujarat, India, Dwarka is one of the most important destinations for religious or spiritual tourism in India. It is among the Char Dharms or Four Holiest Sites for the followers of Sanatan Dharma.
Nevertheless, this time, the focus is on the ancient underwater city of Dwarka, which unites history and mythology.
The ancient remains of Dwarka, resting 100 feet in the water of the Gulf of Khambhat or Gulf of Cambay, were discovered in 1988. According to experts, the city could be around 5000-10000 years old.
Pillars, structures, artifacts, and grids were present in these ancient remains. All these show how opulent Krishna’s Dwarka was as a city. However, there are debates about how the city sank.
Myths say that Dwarka went under the water after Lord Krishna left this mortal world, announcing the end of the Dvapara Yug and the beginning of the Kali Yuga. However, with a more scientific approach, many find coast erosion to be the reason for Dwarka’s submersion.
And now, with the first submarine tourism facility in the country, the religious allure of Dwarka, the city of Lord Krishna, is stronger.
⁕⁕ Dream And Travel Note ⁕⁕
Dwarka is accessible to the rest of the world and other parts of the country, thanks to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.
However, for the submarine tourism spot, you have to visit Bet Dwarka by taking a ferry service. You have to reserve the ferry from the Okha Port (1-hour ride from Dwarka), and the price is INR 20 for one side.
You can even take a train to the Okha Railway Station. The Okha Port is around 3 Kms away from the railway station and you take a ferry from here to reach Bet Dwarka.
Moreover, the Sudarshan Setu now connects Bet Dwarka with Okha. So, you can enjoy a road trip through this longest cable-stayed bridge in India.
2. Baia, Italy
The Las Vegas of Ancient Rome! This is what people used to call Baia in Italy. Home to hedonistic Romans, this underwater city was engulfed after some massive volcanic activities here.
Today, the remains of this 2000-year-old ancient city rest in almost perfect condition under the water. You need to just get 20 feet deep into the water to find the ruins.
The site is now a part of the Underwater Archaeological Park of Baia. While diving, you will find Emperor Claudio’s Nymphaeum, the Pisoni’s Villa, and thermal baths.
Baia is close to the Naples (NAP) Airport with a distance of less than 50 Kms. Bus and cab services are frequently available for this journey by road.
3. Pavlopetri, Greece
Pavlopetri is another ancient Greek city underwater. This city dates back to 5,000 years ago. Today, the tombs, streets, buildings, and other remains of the city are present on the Peloponnese Peninsula in the Southern Laconia off-coast.
Further, the remains of the city today give insights into city planning and lifestyles in ancient Greece.
| “It has remains dating from 2800 to 1200 BC, long before the glory days of classical Greece. There are older sunken sites in the world but none can be considered to be planned towns such as this, which is why it is unique.“ Dr Jon Henderson, Associate Professor of Underwater Archaeology, University of Nottingham |
Nicholas Flemming discovered this ancient underwater city in 1967, and it is the oldest underwater city in the Mediterranean Sea.
Furthermore, the remains here indicate the presence of a booming textile industry in Pavlopetri or Paul’s Stone.
Today, Pavlopetri is an example of underwater heritage and you can also fly to the Chania International Airport Ioannis Daskalogiannis or the Athens Airport to reach the Pavlopetri site.
It is at a distance of 150 km and 179 km from the Chania Airport and Athens Airport , respectively.
4. The Lost Villages of Ontario, Canada
Ten Canadian towns of the Cornwall and Osnabruck municipalities sank with the construction of a waterbody in this area.
The waterway built in the 1950s needed the construction of a dam across the St. Lawrence River. The construction of the Saint Lawrence Seaway further prompted the submersion of these 10 towns in 1958.
This unfortunate incident took place on Inundation Day or 1st July 1958.
Today, you can see the remains of sidewalks and some buildings from the surface level of the water.
⁕⁕ Dream And Travel Note ⁕⁕
The Lost Villages Museum at 16361 Fran Laflamme Drive, Long Sault, Ontario, is a site that has 10 restored heritage buildings from 10 lost villages of Ontario. The museum site with the restored buildings in the Ault Park has a village-like setting.
Further, the buildings here “commemorate the inundation of lands to the south of the museum complex on July 1, 1958.”
The museum remains closed as you read this guide. It will reopen on 25th July, 2025. You can call the museum authority at 613-534-2197 for further details.
5. Atlit-Yam, Israel
30 feet under the Mediterranean Sea (off the Israel Coast) lies Atlit-Yam, an ancient city with a history of 8000 years.
The city unearthed in 1984, had skeletons, remains of buildings, and graves. However, the most fascinating find in this Neolithic settlement was the seven megaliths forming a circle.
There are debates about how Atlit-Yam sank. However, one Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology study led by Maria Pareschi suggested tsunamis and volcanic eruptions as the causes of submersion.
Unfortunately, recreational diving is not allowed in Atlit-Yam now. It is now preserved as an “important archaeological dive site.”
6. Phanagoria, Russia
Phanagoria in Russia is an ancient underwater city that is partially underwater and partially on land. To be specific, the Black Sea waters have taken 1/3rd of the city, and now 2/3rd of this city remains erect on land.
Founded in 540 BC, Phanagoria, the capital of the Bosporan Empire, was the largest city in Greece in ancient times. However, now, it is part of Russia and is located along the Taman Peninsula of the Black Sea.
Recently, the remains of a Jewish City with wineries and a park from Phanagoria have been found near the remains of an ancient synagogue in the Taman Peninsula. The synagogue called Phanagoria synagogue, had remains of altars, artifacts, menorah, and copper coins.
7. Port Royal, Jamaica
Do you want to visit the home of the real Pirates of the Caribbean? Port Royal in Jamaica will be your go-to destination.
A massive earthquake on 7th June 1692 submerged Port Royal, known as the “wickedest city” of the world. However, many see the act as a curse from God for the misdeeds of the pirates.
Nevertheless, today, this underwater city is well-preserved and you can even find many remains from here in various museums of Jamaica.
Today, you can get in touch with a local dive center at Port Royal and see the shallow shipwrecks and other remains of the city.
You can Port Royal from the nearby Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica. The distance is around 10 kms between these places.
8. Heracleion, Egypt
It was 2000, and Franck Goddio, an archeologist, unearthed the ancient underwater city of Thonis-Heracleion, just 7 km off the Egyptian Coast.
| “Spectacular ceremonies must have taken place there. The place must have been sealed for hundreds of years as we have found no objects from later than the early 4th century BC, even though the city lived on for several hundred years after that.” Franck Goddio |
The ancient city takes us to the 4th Century BC (even before that), and while the Greeks called it Heracleion, the Egyptians named it Thonis.
Further, with consistent archaeological excavations, potteries, gold jewelry, temples, streets, and buildings were found here. Also, the ruins of the fast galley, an ancient type of boat propelled by oarsmen, were found here.
Heracleion went underwater as the ground beneath it collapsed. However, the ancient city that Goddio thinks needs at least 200 years of excavation, still remains important for the history of ancient Egypt.
⁕⁕ Dream And Travel Note ⁕⁕
The ancient ruins of Heracleion are still there under the Mediterranean Sea. However, the site is not open for recreational diving.
Only researchers and archaeologists can dive into the water and explore the mystery of this underwater city.
9. Neapolis, Tunisia
The world faced a massive tsunami in the 4th century AD, and an ancient Roman City was under the water. This is Neapolis, an underwater city in Tunisia.
Many archaeological studies here have unearthed mosaics, monuments, and streets here. All these allow us to know about the culture, architecture, and lifestyle of this ancient civilization.
Very close to the seashore, you will find the vats of the Garum factory. The ancient city survived on the production of garum, a special spice. Further, the Nympharum Domus, or the ruins of twenty rooms for Nymphs here, show mosaics of Oceanus, dolphins, lobsters, and fish.
| Did You Know? Garum was made from the intestines of fish like mackerel, sardines, and mullet. People in Neapolis used to liquefy the fish intestines and then those were fermented and left in the Sun for drying. |
You can learn more about the ancient city at the Musée Archéologique de Nabeul or the Nabeul Archaeological Museum.
The current city of Nabeul in Tunisia owes its name to Neapolis or the New City. The underwater city ruins or the archaeological site is just 2 Km southwest of the Nabeul City Center.
Tunis-Carthage and Enfidha-Hammamet airports keep Nabeul City connected to the rest of the world. Further, you can take a taxi, bus, or car to reach Nabeul City from Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia.
⁕⁕Dream And Travel Note ⁕⁕
You can visit the Archaeological Site of Neapolis today. However, the underwater ruins discovered after archaeological diving in 2017, are not accessible to the public now.
10. Yonaguni Jima, Okinawa Islands, Japan
The Ryukyu Islands in Japan has its own Atlantis, or underwater city. Today, Yonaguni Jima is a popular destination for diving and billfish fishing.
Further, off the coast of the Ryukyu Islands, (Okinawa Prefecture) the Yonaguni Monument features some even shapes. After examining these shapes, scientists think that an ancient civilization existed here around 10000 years ago.
Moreover, many believe that the markings on the staircases, arch, and pyramid-shaped structure are ancient scriptures.
You can visit the Yonaguni Jima Monument every day between 6:45 AM and 10:45 PM. Furthermore, it is open for 24 hours on Mondays.
Yonaguni Jima in the Okinawa Islands is accessible thanks to the New Ishigaki Airport located on the Ishigaki Island’s eastern coast.
Also, you can take a round ferry trip from Ishigaki Island to the Okinawa Islands. However, the ferry services are available only twice a week.
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