22 Ancient Shipwrecks Discovered Off the Coast of Greece

By Rebecca Bradbury 4 November 2015

A team of underwater archaeologists have discovered an amazing haul of 22 shipwrecks near the small Greek archipelago of Fourni, which opens up even more diving opportunities for those on a luxury yacht vacation in Greece.

The Greek waters are home to some 1,400 islands, which offer endless opportunities for snorkelling and scuba diving. However, a discovery of this magnitude is unprecedented and has added 12 percent to the total of known shipwrecks in Greek territorial waters.

Found in an area of just 17 miles in the Aegean Sea, the wreckages and their cargo date back as far as 700BC and up to the 16th century. Plus the high number of wrecks discovered suggest just how crucial a passageway the small archipelago was for seafaring merchants in ancient times.

The discovery adds yet another reason why Greece is a must-see destination. In fact, it’s recommended that yacht goers should begin preparing their 2016 summer yachting vacations to Greece now as its popularity as a luxury yacht destination has shown no avail, despite the country’s economic crisis.

Read our article on the Greece economic crisis: how yachting is affected for more information on this topic.

Other shipwrecks found in Greek waters that are a favourite amongst divers include Apollonia II, which sank in 1955, the cargo ship Kyra that met her fate in 1978 and the German submarine U 133, which sunk during World War I.

Greece also has a variety of reefs, caves and canyons to explore, and these can all easily be incorporated into a yachting itinerary.

If you would like more information on exploring the dive sites of Greece, please get in touch with your preferred charter broker.

Alternatively, compare all luxury yachts available to charter in Greece.