Scuba Geek

Scuba Diving into history in King Herod’s harbor June 9, 2006

Posted by Andy Carroll in : OceanDiving, Travel , trackback

I am sure that many scuba divers all at some point imagine swimming through a submerged city, at least I do. This story from Reuters highlights a dive site which might just satisfy this dream. Caesarea is an Isreali city and is host to an ancient harbor which is believed to have existed for 2,000 years.;

The Romans conquered Caesarea in 63 BC. King Herod named the port city in 22 BC to honor his patron Caesar Augustus and commissioned the building of the harbor, as well as other major projects, the remains of which are now on display.

The city later became the Roman provincial capital of Judea, a region which now encompasses Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Sarah Arenson, a maritime historian involved in the project, said the ancient harbor first opened in 10 BC and served for more than a century as the main gateway for goods such as exotic spices, textiles, dyes and cosmetics shipped to the Roman Empire from places as distant as the Far East.

“It probably overshadowed the old and very important ports of the eastern Mediterranean,” Arenson said. “Caesarea eclipsed these old famous harbors in economic importance and splendor.”

40 years ago Isreali and US archeologists discivered some ruins and since then, have worked to preserve the remnants, to create Isreal’s first underwater archeological museum.

With waterproof maps and an instructor to guide them, scuba divers can maneuver through the larger artifacts by following ropes tied between the poles placed in the sea bed. Snorkelers can view remnants found in more shallow waters.

Apparently you can dive this site for a few dollars and it is gaining in popularity;

Avi Baz, a diving instructor, said hundreds of people had already visited the underwater exhibit, a 40- to 50-minute dive. He predicts numbers will only grow.

“Divers in general have a tendency to look for new sites, new adventures, new thrills,” he said.