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Türkiye’s Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said the Gallipoli (Gelibolu) Underwater Historical Park is where divers do more than explore the sea; they also retrace the nation’s past.
“Diving tourism is not only about witnessing the magic underwater; it is about rediscovering the traces of our history in the depths,” he noted, adding that the park brings together natural riches and a legacy “forged by heroism.”
The park stands out as one of the first areas worldwide where wartime shipwrecks have been protected in their original locations and opened to diving in a systematic way.
Vessels sunk during the 1915 Canakkale Campaign—among them HMS Triumph, HMS Majestic, Bouvet, HMS Irresistible, Louis, SS Carthage, and HMS Hythe—carry the technology and human stories of the era into the present.
Officials frame the site as a space that serves military history as well as a broader culture of remembrance and shared heritage.
The statement also recalls that the ships were brought down by Turkish soldiers, commonly referred to as “Mehmetcik,” a term used for rank-and-file servicemen.
The park currently offers 21 designated dive points: 19 are World War I wrecks, and two are reef dives that include a visible fault line (a natural fracture in Earth’s crust).
Depths range from 3 meters (9.8 feet) to 84 meters (275.5 feet), which allows beginners and advanced divers alike to plan their descents.
Diving is possible throughout the year, while the most suitable months run from May to November.
Beyond tourism, the area anchors ongoing research and conservation. Teams track corrosion processes, apply cathodic protection, and carry out bathymetric mapping and 3D modeling to create a “digital twin” of the site—a virtual replica that helps secure long-term preservation of underwater cultural heritage.
By drawing domestic and international divers, the park supports hotels, food-and-beverage venues, transport providers and licensed guides across Canakkale, Eceabat and nearby villages.
With international promotions picking up, officials say the region’s brand value continues to rise.
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