To many, the terms “shipwreck” and “sunken ship” evoke images of treasure hunts and pirate adventures from bygone eras. However, ancient wooden shipwrecks are actually rare. According to the United Nations, over three million shipwrecks lie on the ocean floor. These vessels sank due to a variety of causes—war, weather, accidents, or deliberate scuttling.
Here, we explore ten of the most remarkable sunken ships on Earth. For details, continue reading.
Remarkable Sunken Ships
| Rank | Ship Name | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Frigate 356 | 1980s |
| 9 | Unnamed Yacht | 2002 or 1998 |
| 8 | Sweepstakes | 1885 |
| 7 | Russian Wreck | Before 1982 |
| 6 | USS Utah | 1941 |
| 5 | P29 | 2007 |
| 4 | USS Arizona | 1941 |
| 3 | Giannis D | 1983 |
| 2 | Tugboat Rozi | 1992 |
| 1 | Prince Albert | 1987 |
10. Frigate 356, Cayman Brac
Resting 150 miles south of Cuba in the waters off Cayman Brac, at depths ranging from 40 to 90 feet, is the Frigate 356—a ghostly shipwreck split in two. This vessel, constructed by the Soviets in the early 1980s during the final years of the Cold War, was intended for the Cuban Navy.
However, with the collapse of the USSR, the ship remained in limbo. After a decade as scrap, the 306-foot warship was purchased by the Cayman government, transformed into a dive site, and renamed Capt. Keith Tibbetts.
Originally, it settled near a 6,000-foot underwater cliff called The Wall, but storms eventually shifted it 100 feet away. Remarkably, the ship’s resistance to rust has made it difficult for nature to reclaim it. As photographer Mark Lightfoot notes, “Its primary component, aluminum, has rendered it a death ship in the afterlife.”
9. Unnamed Yacht, Egyptian Red Sea
In the Egyptian Red Sea, Abu Galawa Shiwayya is a reef with a turquoise-colored lagoon at its heart, aptly named “Small Father of Turquoise Blue Water.” The identity of the sunken yacht located here remains a mystery.
Local guides suggest it might be an American sailboat that sank in 2002. However, diving instructor Rik Vercoe argues that it could be the Endymion, an Australian yacht that met its end in 1998 due to a navigational error.
Vercoe notes that the coral growth on the wreck—whose decking and upper structure have vanished—appears to be more consistent with ten years of growth rather than just five.
8. Sweepstakes, Tobermory, Ontario
Just twenty feet underwater and still visible from the surface in Tobermory lie the remains of the Sweepstakes, a 119-foot Canadian schooner once used for transporting coal. Built in 1867, this vessel served for 18 years before it was damaged near Cove Island.
Towed by a tugboat to Big Tub Harbor in Fathom Five National Marine Park for repairs, the damage, sustained in August 1885, proved too severe, and the ship sank in the harbor that September.
Regarded as one of the best-preserved 19th-century Great Lakes schooners, the Sweepstakes is experiencing some deterioration. The marine park is actively addressing this with repairs to prevent the collapse of the deck.
7. Russian Wreck, South Egyptian Red Sea
Known simply as the “Russian Wreck,” this sunken vessel is thought by some to be the Khanka, a Russian spy ship that sank before 1982. Even if it isn’t the Khanka, most agree that it was a communications and surveillance ship.
Since the 1950s, the Soviets used commercial vessels like fishing trawlers for intelligence purposes, and a surveillance facility was established at Yemen’s nearby Ras Karm Military Airbase in 1971.
Divers exploring the wreck have discovered a wealth of electronic equipment, including over 200 batteries, large multi-core cables in the communications mast, and directional-finding antennae. Situated off Zabagad Island at depths of up to 80 feet, the ship likely sank after colliding with a reef.
6. USS Utah, Pearl Harbor
Launched in 1909 and serving in World War I, the Florida-class battleship USS Utah was moored at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, during the infamous attack. At 521 feet long, the vessel had been converted into a target ship but was later rearmed and refitted for training.
Despite its reduced military role, the Utah was struck by a torpedo during the Japanese assault and sank within minutes.
On that tragic day, six officers and 52 men lost their lives aboard the Utah. Today, 54 of them remain entombed within the rusting, partially submerged wreck. Access to the site is restricted; the memorial on nearby Ford Island is only open to those sponsored and accompanied by authorized military personnel.
5. P29, Malta
The P29, a more recent addition to the list of sunken ships, was scuttled around September 2007 at Marfa Point in Malta. This 167-foot navy patrol boat’s history isn’t well-documented, but as a dive site, it offers several intriguing features.
Divers can explore narrow passages, observe an array of knobs, levers, and gauges still intact, and even find a painting of the Tasmanian Devil from Looney Tunes.
4. USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor
An iconic memorial now stands above the sunken remains of the USS Arizona, a Pennsylvania-class battleship from the early 20th century that met a tragic fate at Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, the 608-foot ship suffered severe damage from four direct hits by Japanese bombs.
The last bomb struck the ammunition magazine, causing a massive explosion and fires that raged for two days. The blast was so intense that it even extinguished the fire on the repair ship Vestal, moored alongside.
Tragically, 1,177 crew members lost their lives aboard the Arizona that day—almost half of the total casualties from the attack. Remarkably, each day, over two quarts of oil continue to seep from the wreck, visible on the surface of the water.
3. Giannis D, Egyptian Red Sea
Listing to one side on the seabed, the Giannis D is a popular dive site in the Egyptian Red Sea. Built in Japan in 1969, the ship was initially named Shoyo Maru. After being sold in 1975, the 300-foot cargo vessel was renamed Markos, a name still partially visible on the hull.
The ship was sold again to a Greek company five years later and received its final name, Giannis D, marked by a large ‘D’ on the funnel.
On April 19, 1983, while transporting softwood lumber from Croatia to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the vessel struck the Sha’ab Abu Nuhas coral reef at full speed. It now rests adjacent to the reef that caused its sinking.
2. Tugboat Rozi, Malta
Little is known about the Tugboat Rozi beyond its scuttling in 1992 at the popular dive site of Cirkewwa in Malta. Visitors, often aboard glass-bottom boats, have admired the vessel’s remarkably intact condition—aside from the missing propellers and engine.
Resting upright in about 118 feet of water, the Tugboat Rozi serves as a habitat for various marine life, including jellyfish and moray eels. These creatures find refuge in the tug’s pipes, which serve as their preferred crevices and alcoves.
1. Prince Albert, Roatan, Honduras
Intentionally scuttled in 1987 by the owner of Coco View Resort in Roatan, Honduras, the Prince Albert had a storied history. Originally an island freighter, the 140-foot tanker was used by Nicaraguans to transport refugees from their war-torn country to Roatan, the largest of the Bay Islands in Honduras.
After serving its purpose, the vessel was docked, stripped of its valuable parts, and left partially submerged. Bill Evans saw an opportunity to transform the old ship into a dive site for his guests.
Despite a mishap involving a shrimp boat that was stranded and damaged on a reef while towing the Prince Albert through rough seas, the tanker was eventually sunk and renamed, becoming a popular underwater attraction.
Last Words
In summary, the world’s sunken ships each have their own fascinating stories. Whether they’re Cold War relics, mysterious yachts, or historic vessels, these wrecks capture our imagination and connect us with the past. Exploring them offers a unique glimpse into history and the natural processes that shape our oceans.