Photos Of Planes, Cars, And Boats That Ended Up Underwater… And How They Got There
Shipwrecks are unfortunately common, and many divers find ships at the bottom of the ocean. But what about cars? Buses? Planes? These rarely end up in the ocean, and many have interesting stories behind them. Some were shot down in war, while others were purposefully sunk to create an artificial reef. Check out these underwater cars, boats, and planes all around the world.
Pablo Escobar's Criminal Plane Sank In The Bahamas
Pablo Escobar was an infamous Colombian narcotics lord who smuggled his wares throughout the 20th century. He transported items on planes, one of which crashed close to the Staniel Cay airport in the Bahamas.
In the 1970s, a pilot radioed the airport to request help for finding the dimly lit landing strip. He feared that his plane would run out of fuel. The next morning, divers searched Norman Cay and found the sunken plane, filled with narcotics. The pilots had escaped and survived, but Escobar's smuggling plane remains there to this day.
These Vintage Subway Cars Are Now In The Ocean
Along the East Coast of the United States, there are 2,500 Redbird subway cars underwater. This is the result of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York. From 2001 to 2010, the MTA repurposed these out-of-commission cars as artificial reefs.
These subway cars are still underwater along the coasts of South Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey. As artificial reefs, these cars promote sea life by allowing corral and other sea life to inhabit them. They are also fascinating for divers.
This "Ghost Yacht" Was Frozen Underwater
If you sail to Ardley Cove, Antarctica, you'll see a frozen yacht beneath the water. This yacht, called Mar Sem Fim or "Endless Sea" in English, was owned by Brazilian journalist and entrepreneur João Lara Mesquita. He and his crew were filming a documentary about Antarctica when the yacht sank.
According to crew members, the boat was overturned by 62 miles per hour winds. The Chilean Navy rescued survivors after four days. Mar Sem Fim remained 30 feet underwater, visible from the surface, for one year until it was recovered.
How This 1957 Volkswagen Bus Ended Up Underwater
In 1973, someone dumped their 1957 Volkswagen 23 Window Bus into a lake. This was common. Fjord, a water inlet in Norway, became a popular dumping ground for vehicles. It cost less to buy a new car than to repair the old one.
For 36 years, divers could swim by the old Volkswagen along with other tires and car parts in the lake. But in 2009, Morten Lunt heard about the vehicle and lifted it out of the water. He is currently trying to restore it.
Divers Can Swim Into Buses Beneath A Pennsylvania Lake
Dutch Springs near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is a popular diving site. Along with its various species of fish, the lake also contains multiple cars and buses. Dutch Springs used to be a dumping ground for out-of-commission vehicles before it was converted into a diving spot in 1980.
These buses were likely cheaper to dump than to restore. In the 20th century, public lakes were not as moderated as they are today. As a result, dozens of cars and buses ended up 100 feet below the surface. Divers can even swim inside them!
This Sunken School Bus Is Not As Creepy As It Looks
Most people see school buses transporting children to and from school, not at the bottom of the ocean. A decrepit school bus found underwater is a jarring sight. But don't worry; this bus did not contain children when it sank.
This school bus was submerged in Baldwin County, Alabama, as part of a training exercise. It tested bus drivers and emergency responders on safety protocols in case an accident occurs. Despite how it looks, this sunken school bus is actually saving lives.
A 40-Year-Old Graveyard Of Toyotas
The Red Sea near Sudan, Africa, holds a graveyard of sunken Toyota cars. These cars have been underwater for over 40 years. In 1977, the Saudi-Arabian cargo ship Grande America was transferring 181 cars, all of which were Toyotas. It ran aground in the Sha'b Suadi Reef, 50 miles north of Port Sudan.
Now known as the Blue Belt Shipwreck, this spot has become popular with divers. Most of the cars are heavily decayed, but you can still see some engines, steering wheels, and fenders. The fish seem to enjoy it, too.
This 1930s Airliner Is Almost Entirely Intact
Many planes that land in the ocean fall apart, usually from bombing, harsh weather, or strong currents. But this World War II plane is remarkably intact. This is a Douglas DC3, an American airliner produced in the 1930s and '40s, yet the inside and outside are almost perfectly preserved today.
It is unclear when this plane crashed, but it was likely in the 1930s. Divers found it off the coast of Turkey and think it had been transporting military supplies.
Sunken Tourist Buses In Britain
Dayhouse Quarry, also called Chepstow Quarry, is underneath the Wye River on the Wales-England border. The area has multiple sunken vehicles, including commercial trucks, double-decker British tourists buses, tanks, and even a helicopter. They have been there for decades.
These vehicles were purposefully sunk to create a training ground for divers. Even today, divers go there to swim around the vehicles and take unique underwater photos. There are so many stunning pictures from Dayhouse Quarry that it's hard to pick a favorite!
In 2017, A New Military Aircraft Was Tossed Into The Ocean
As you can probably tell by the picture, this sinking was recent. The plane is a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine transport craft. It is known for transporting a large amount of cargo and passengers over long distances, but it also carried out medical missions.
So how did it end up underwater? In 2017, the Jordanian Air Force decided to sink one of these planes to create artificial reefs. Off the coast of Aqaba, Jordan, divers will find a 112-foot-long Hercules with a 132-foot wingspan.
A Mysterious Underwater Beetle
Not much is known about this underwater Volkswagen Beetle. It was found off the shore of Portugal and seems to be falling apart at the seams. Before dumping it into the sea, the mysterious owner removed the engine.
Since 1938, Volkswagen has produced 20 million Beetles. The original reached 25 horsepower and a top speed of 62 mph. In 1998, they launched the "New Beetle" which is often seen today.
This WWII Plane Is Upside-Down And Crooked
During World War II, a Messerschmitt Bf 109 crashed off the shore of Crete. This fighter aircraft was the backbone of the German Luftwaffe fighter force. But when this plane sank 78 feet below the surface, it landed upside-down and crooked.
Over time, this plane has straightened out and now lies on its back in the sand. But the Messerschmitt Bf 109 wreck is still popular among divers, as it has been submerged for around 80 years. It is unknown how this plane crashed and what happened to the pilots.
Hawaiian Fish And A World War II Plane Crash
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-based fighter aircraft that flew in the American Air Corps during World War II. To this day, a crashed Corsair can still be found in O'ahu, Hawaii. It has become an artificial reef that feeds the native fish.
In 1948, the plane was on a routine mission when it started to sputter. The pilot achieved the perfect water landing, with the wheels up and flaps extended. He escaped the plane and was rescued, but the Corsair sank to the seafloor, where it remains today.
British Navy Trucks Sank With The SS Thistlegorm
This truck has been underwater for 80 years, along with many similar vehicles. It was a 1930s military truck that was being transported on a British Merchant Navy ship. When the ship sank, all the vehicles went with it.
In 1940, Joseph Thompson & Son built the SS Thistlegorm. The ship was designed to transport military vehicles, but it barely lasted a year. On October 6, 1941, German bombers sunk it near Ras Muhammad in the Red Sea. Today, the area is a popular site for divers to look at vintage cars.
How A Motorcycle Ended Up Underwater
The SS Thistlegorm transferred several military vehicles. But after it sank, divers were surprised to find motorcycles as part of the cargo. This vintage motorcycle was likely owned by a soldier or higher-ranking Army member.
Specifically, this is a Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited (BSA) motorcycle. BSA was the same company that produced other military vehicles, including firearms, buses, bicycles, and cars. During the '50s and '60s, it was the largest motorcycle producer in the world. But this is a vintage BSA motorcycle from the 1940s.
A Haunting Graveyard Of Japanese Tanks
This tank is a remnant of Japan's war technology. During World War II, Truk Lagoon was a Japanese naval base within the Federated States of Micronesia. At one point, it was their main base with 13,700 people. In 1944, the U.S. Navy commenced "Operation Hailstone" which bombed the base.
As a result, many of Japan's war vehicles sunk to the bottom of the ocean, where they have remained for almost 80 years. This tank is only one piece of an enormous, haunting graveyard of war vehicles.
In 1980, These Trucks Fell Off A Sinking Ship
These trucks are part of a larger shipwreck that occurred in 1980. In June of that year, the Swedish ferry MS Zenobia embarked on her maiden voyage. Due to a software error with the water pumps, the Zenobia sank near Larnaca, Cyprus.
The ship, along with her cargo, now lies 138 feet beneath the surface. Because the ship tilted, her contents fell into the water before she did. These massive trucks ended up next to each other, both resting on their sides. It is an unusual and eerie sight.
The Last B24 Liberator Is Underwater
Near the Croatian island Vis, 128 feet below the surface, there is an American B24 Liberator. This heavy bomber had many updates throughout World War II. This plane, nicknamed the "Tulsamerican," ran out of fuel and crash-landed around 1945.
Based on the aircraft's serial number, 42-51430, this is likely the last B24 ever produced. It was made in Tulsa by Douglas Aircraft, on July 31, 1944. If you want to see the last B24 heavy bomber, you will have to dive over 100 feet to see it at the bottom of the ocean.
Someone Sold This Car For $9,000
This 1959 Chevy Impala has been in a pond for 15 years. Not much is known about where it is, but the owner apparently drove it into the pond on purpose. They wanted to make an artificial reef instead of paying for a statue or art sculpture.
After several years, it became clear that the artificial reef idea would not work. The car was too close to the surface for fish to inhabit it. So instead, the owner fished it out and sold it for $9,000. The new owner has a big restoration job!
A 1970 Mustang Turned Into A Reef
It's not common to see an expensive luxury car underwater. But this 1970 Mustang has gone from the road to the bottom of the ocean. Like many other vintage or "dead" vehicles, it was transformed into an artificial reef.
The Mustang used to be bright red, but its paint is slowly coming off. Some of the parts were removed, such as the lights and tires, likely for recycling. Meanwhile, fish and seaweed seem to be turning the car into their new home.
