The wreckage of the sunken French warship “Paris 2” off the coast of the tourist city of “Antalya” is still of great interest to diving enthusiasts, as the famous diving centers place it on daily trips, with the increasing demand to see the wreck, which is among the 100 best diving sites in the world.
The ship, which was originally built as a fishing vessel in 1896, was later transformed into a warship that was sent to the Mediterranean during World War I. The wreck of the ship has settled at the bottom of the water since it was sunk by an artillery battery led by Turkish Captain Mustafa Ertuğrul Akar off the coast of the tourist city of “Antalya” on the Mediterranean Sea, during World War I, when it was carrying weapons and equipment for the French forces.
The ship, which was discovered in 1995 at the bottom of the sea, is about 50 meters long, 8 meters wide, and its total weight is 551 tons. It is located at a depth of 33 meters below the surface of the water, and it lies about 1.5 km from the coast in the “Kemer” marina.
Visiting the remains of this French warship today constitutes an enjoyable journey through time to see the remnants of the First World War, as it provides wonderful scenes of amazement and excitement for divers and underwater photographers.
Every year, thousands of diving enthusiasts come to embark on an exploration adventure of the ship, while the diving season flourishes in Turkey, especially in the month of May, when daily dive tours are organized around the shipwreck.
What increases the demand for divers to discover it is that it contains military equipment dating back to the time of World War I, carrying 6 anti-aircraft guns and two torpedo tubes, and its location is considered one of the most important tourist diving sites in the White Sea.