In 2019, Jordan sank 19 military machines in the Red Sea, turning retired tanks, cannons, an ambulance, and a combat helicopter into an underwater museum and artificial reef

Imagine a battle tank frozen in formation on the ocean floor, with a school of fish swimming through its open hatch. That is no movie scene. It’s real, and you can go down to see it off the coast of Aqaba, Jordan. A 2023 systematic review in PLOS ONE, 'A systematic review of artificial reefs as platforms for coral reef research and conservation,' looked at decades of projects using artificial reefs to support marine life and give divers a reason to visit the ocean without wearing down natural coral formations. One example of that idea in action is the underwater military museum in Jordan.

A tank graveyard turned tourist hotspot

On July 24, 2019, the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) opened what it called the world’s first underwater military museum in the Red Sea, after a week of lowering decommissioned military hardware onto the seabed. At the time, CNN reported the site had 19 pieces of military machinery on display, including tanks of different sizes, an ambulance, a military crane, a personnel carrier, anti-aircraft guns, and a helicopter. Since then, more machinery has been added, and as of late 2025, there are 21 pieces in total, according to dive operators who run tours of the site.


The machines have military histories. Examples include British-made Chieftain battle tanks nicknamed Khalid Shir, an FV104 Samaritan armored ambulance, FV101 Scorpion light tanks, and an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter, all of which previously served in the Jordanian Armed Forces. Each of the vehicles was decommissioned and stripped of its fuel and oil content to avoid any damage to the environment.

Why sink a tank in the first place?

The vehicles were not dumped at random. They were organized into battle formations at depths of up to 28 meters (about 92 feet), providing access not only to beginner snorkelers but also to experienced scuba divers. According to Jordan's official state news agency Petra, ASEZA said the project would create 'a new type of museum' combining sport, environment, and exhibits for divers, snorkelers, and visitors on glass-bottom boats.

There is also some practical rationale behind projects of this kind. In particular, according to the study on artificial reef effectiveness in Ecological Indicators, artificial reefs are often built to give divers an alternative site to relieve pressure on natural reefs, as well as to create new hard surfaces for coral and other marine species to colonize. Aqaba had already tried this on a smaller scale. On November 16, 2017, ASEZA sunk a retired C-130 Hercules transport aircraft nearby, and it has now become one of the best-known dive spots of the city and helped make the case for a much bigger project.

Does it actually help the reef?

It is reasonable to ask whether sinking military equipment helps the marine ecosystem or simply serves tourism. The research suggests the answer depends on how and where a reef is built. The PLOS ONE review found that many monitored projects reported increases in fish numbers, habitat or coral cover, but results varied widely depending on reef design, location and how long the reef had been underwater. ASEZA's own statement says the vehicles were stationed alongside the area's existing coral reefs, arranged so new growth on the metal surfaces could supplement rather than disturb the coral already there.

Abdullah Abu-Awali, ASEZA's head of environment, told Dive Magazine the museum's site was chosen partly because it was 'relatively poor' in existing marine life and coral, making it a low-risk spot to draw divers away from more fragile reefs. Dive operators now describe the wrecks as an established part of Aqaba's reef ecosystem, encrusted with coral and colonized by fish, consistent with what artificial-reef research generally finds: growth like this takes years, not months, but it does happen when a site is chosen well and left undisturbed.

A global trend, with Jordan out in front

Jordan is not the only country to sink aircraft and other vehicles for underwater attractions. According to CNN's report, Bahrain has already sunk a Boeing 747 for a similar attraction under the sea, and in Turkey an Airbus jet was sunk near the Gallipoli Peninsula to attract divers. However, one thing that sets the Aqaba project apart is its scale and theme. Unlike some other projects, it features not a single aircraft or ship, but an entire battlefield of retired equipment, which makes the experience feel more like visiting an underwater museum. Such attractions might be appealing for people who'd rather chase an adventure than spend a beach vacation lying in the sand. This attraction is unique and photogenic, and it carries a real environmental dimension alongside its obvious appeal as a tourist draw. Floating among tanks that once moved on land, now slowly becoming part of a reef, is a reminder that old machines of war can take on a new purpose.