The Freak Storm that Left the Hercules C130 a Real Wreck
On November 16, 2017, Aqaba created a new dive site and sunk an old Hercules C130 transport aircraft. It took a lot of preparation to prepare the plane for sinking and much coordination between the Royal Jordanian Navy, the Aqaba Port Corporation, and ASESA, the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority. They placed it 300m/984ft off the shore at a maximum depth of about 16 meters. King Abdullah II spearheaded this project to promote tourism and create an artificial reef for fish to inhabit. Some people are naturally skeptical about artificial reefs and wonder why people would want to put things like planes underwater. Because artificial reefs soon become a habitat for new marine life, they create popular destinations for divers. They also divert pressure away from heavily visited coral reefs. Too many divers in certain spots can eventually cause damage. So many believe that artificial reefs can create a win-win situation for the environment and the economy. And it was with this intent that Aqaba decided to sink the Hercules. They placed the plane in a location near the M42 Duster tank that was easily accessible from shore or boat by divers and snorkelers. At that time, the plane was fully intact and quite a sight to behold underwater. Photo: Torbjorn Gylleus / DYK – The Scandinavian Dive Site, used by permission Photo: Torbjorn Gylleus / DYK – The Scandinavian Dive Site, used by permission Hercules C130 2017 Photo: Torbjorn Gylleus, used by permission Photo: Torbjorn Gylleus, used by permission Photo: Torbjorn Gylleus, used by… Read More »The Freak Storm that Left the Hercules C130 a Real Wreck
