In order to attract divers from around the world to Jordan, a decommissioned Jordanian military aircraft was completely cleaned and then submerged off the coast of Aqaba on November 16.
In three minutes, it was all over! The C130 Hercules had just left its barge, held by a crane, when it reached the bottom, 17 meters below. Before that, a grand ceremony was held, attended by local authorities and honored by a C130 flying over the plane about to be submerged.
Now resting on a sandy bed a hundred meters from the shore, the wreck is easily accessible to divers, either from the beach or a boat (a buoy is present on site). Positioned just 17 meters deep a few meters from coral heads, the plane can also be seen – when visibility is good – from the surface by snorkeling.
An artificial reef to develop marine life
Before being submerged, the new wreck was completely cleaned. The interior is empty, and the electronic components in the cockpit have been removed. With its 40 meters wingspan and 30 meters length, the aircraft is very impressive in size. It is possible to enter inside through the doors on each side. In the cockpit, a fake skeleton has been placed at the controls, whether one finds the humor in this or not, in any case, this wreck does not carry a tragic history behind it.
The main goal of this immersion—besides attracting divers from around the world—is to transform this plane into a new artificial reef, allowing flora and fauna to develop there. This experiment has already been conducted not far from here, as in 1999 an M42 Duster tank was sunk for the same purpose. Today, it is inhabited by moray eels. It will take a few years for nature to reclaim its rights and for this plane to become the playground for a diverse fauna. Nevertheless, it should attract many divers curious to explore and discover the other underwater riches of Jordan.
Text: Margot Harty
Photo and video report: Dominique Barray