Greece’s Ministry of Culture is moving to create two visitable underwater archaeological sites in the Fournoi archipelago, in the northern Aegean Sea — a cluster of islands sometimes called the “Archipelago of Shipwrecks.”
Since systematic underwater surveys began in 2014, researchers have catalogued an astonishing 62 shipwrecks in the area, dating from the 6th century BC to the interwar period. The sheer concentration of wrecks underscores the region’s millennia-long importance as a maritime crossroads.
The two new sites, located at Akra Fygou and Vathylakas, will feature designated diving routes with controlled access, ensuring both the protection of archaeological finds and the safety of visitors. A dedicated regulatory framework is being prepared to address security, heritage protection, and recreational diving standards. If successful, the project could become a model for underwater cultural tourism across the Mediterranean.
