Divers Return to Explore Tyre's Sunken Ancient City After War Damage

Divers are navigating submerged stone walls, ancient harbor installations and a flooded roadway that form part of Tyre’s historic landscape beneath the Mediterranean. The city, famed for its Phoenician maritime heritage and later Roman prominence, saw heavy Israeli airstrikes before a fragile ceasefire was reached, prompting UNESCO to place it on the World Heritage in Danger list. While the overall diving season remains below pre-war levels, Yousef al-Jundi, manager of the Lebanon Diving Center, notes a steady rise in visitors drawn to the “sunken city.”

Ali Badawi of Lebanon’s Directorate General of Antiquities warns that the underwater sites lack strong protection and are vulnerable to encroachments, but authorities are conducting surveys and drafting legislation to safeguard them. Plans are also underway to create underwater archaeological parks to boost tourism and preserve the submerged heritage as Tyre rebuilds its economy.