Strangest Things Found by Deep Sea Divers

They say still waters run deep, but ocean waves hide the strangest things

It goes without saying that the world’s oceans are vast and mysterious. Therefore, it is no surprise that people have found some truly strange things when exploring them. From ancient statues to war artifacts to weird underwater life forms, here are the strangest things found by deep-sea divers. Make sure you also check out these amazing trivia facts about the earth’s oceans.

Trucks

Planes

Just like trucks, planes occasionally find their way to the bottom of the ocean. For example, deep-sea divers in Oahu, Hawaii, stumbled upon the remains of an F4U Corsair that had been in many wars and crashed into the ocean in 1946 due to fuel shortage. Here are some of the most beautiful sea caves in the world to visit.

Ferries

It might not be the most comforting thought, but unfortunately ferries can sink too. For example, MS Zenobia, a Swedish-built 10,000-ton ferry, launched in 1979 and sunk near Cyprus in the 1980s. Here’s a list of ghost ship sightings that no one can explain.

An Underwater River

The Underwater River is not actually a river, but an optical illusion. Cenote Angelita Cave contains a very rare optical illusion, caused by a halocline: a cloud of hydrogen sulphide formed by decomposing organic debris at the bottom of the cave. This magical-looking cloud separates the salty seawater above from the fresh groundwater which seeps up from below, and makes it seem like divers are swimming in an underwater river. Check out these other fascinating ocean facts.

Statues

Museums are not the only place you can find historical relics. If they’re lucky, deep-sea divers occasionally run into submerged ancient statues. For example, on the seafloor off the coast of Naples, Italy, lies one of the world’s only underwater archaeological parks: the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Baia. Here are some other incredible undersea treasures found all over the world

Tanks

Reminders of past wars can make their way anywhere—and that includes oceans. Deep-sea divers occasionally end up finding remains of once-powerful tanks at the bottom of the ocean. Here are some other technological advancements from World War I.

Gas masks

It is not exactly a joyous occasion to run into masks used in past wars on the bottom of the ocean. However, deep-sea divers do occasionally run into forgotten war relics like these. Did you know gas masks are not the only creepy things found in the ocean?

Titanic

Yes, the ruins of the famous Titanic were never recovered. The once “unsinkable” ship lies at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, and it was discovered in September 1985. Fascinated by shipwrecks? Check out these other sunken ships around the world.

Jesus statue

A glorious sculpture of Jesus Christ by Guido Galletti was deliberately placed on the Mediterranean seabed in 1954. The status is a tribute to Italian scuba diver Dario Gonzatt, who had died while diving in that location, near the Italian Riviera. Today, divers find the statue covered by ocean life. Make sure you also check out these other stunning deep-sea sights across the world.

Sunken submarines

Giant Isopod

Christmas tree worm

This strange yet beautiful deep-sea creature was found by scientists at the Great Barrier Reef’s Lizard Island. Although they get their name from their triangular plumes, this colorful creature would make a great addition to any Christmas tree–but they’d prefer a coral tree.

Sea angels

With their beautiful, nearly transparent wings, it’s easy to see where sea angels get their name, but they are actually a type of predatory sea snail. Unlike other sea snails, sea angels don’t have shells. They grow no bigger than a walnut (about 2 inches).

Flamingo tongue snail

Leafy seadragon

Sea spider

Arctic Hydromedusa