Divers eye shipwreck "Majectic"

Divers eye the British shipwreck ‘Majestic’

The Dardanelles, dubbed the city with the most shipwrecks of war in its waters, has been one of the important diving destinations in the world with numerous shipwrecks hidden in the depths of its waters. Among them the British warship, the Majestic, which was sunk by a German submarine 92 years ago during the Gallipoli War, is the biggest dream for domestic and international divers

The British warship, the Majestic, which was sunk during the Gallipoli naval battles, remains a dream for both Turkish and international divers. The shipwreck lying at a depth of 33 meters in the Seddülbahir Feneri district for 92 years is forbidden for diving purposes since it is located in a restricted area. The Dardanelles, dubbed the city with the most wartime shipwrecks in its waters, has been an important diving destination in the world with it's numerous shipwrecks hidden in the depths of its waters. Among them the British warship, the Majestic, which was sunk by a German submarine 92 years ago during the Gallipoli War that lasted from the beginning of 1915 to the end of 1918, is the biggest dream for domestic and international divers. The Majestic, that weighed 14,900 gross tons and was 119 meters long with a crew of 757, was the most powerful and important warship of the ally fleet. The shipwreck, the silhouette of which can be seen from a depth of 15 meters, remains among the most attractive shipwrecks especially for British and Australian divers due to its live bombs, tilted observation tower, chimneys and underwater fauna around it.

Diving should be allowed:

Turgay Ye?in, professional diver for 25 years and scuba diving instructor, told the Anatolia news agency that the Dardanelles was the most important diving center in the world with its shipwrecks lying under water. Stating that among the numerous shipwrecks in the Dardanelles, the Majestic itself received thousands of diving requests from divers abroad, he said the shipwreck was not open to divers due to the fact that it is declared as a protected area. “We have some initiatives to utilize the Majestic for diving tourism in line with high demand from abroad. The location of the shipwreck doesn't pose any danger for diving because it is not in the ship transition zone. However, the area is located in the forbidden zone and diving is not allowed,” he said, adding, “The shipwreck could be utilized for tourism and can contribute to the region's economy. Thousands of people from abroad want to dive and see the Majestic, as that is what divers dream of. Those who wish to recall the memory of the Gallipoli War and live those moments want to come here. However, they cannot dive. We believe that at least controlled diving to the Majestic should be allowed in terms of country and regional tourism.”

Shipwrecks in the region:

The Aegean and the Mediterranean have long been important diving destinations for both Turkish and international divers, many of whom are particularly attracted to Gallipoli and the Dardanelles in Çanakkale to explore the large number of British, French and Italian ships sunk around Gallipoli and the Dardanelles during the World War I. Today the locations of 216 shipwrecks have been identified and the most notable ones include the British warships Irresistible, Triumph, Ocean, Majestic and Goliath as well as the French Bouvet.

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