Uncover the Mysterious Stories Behind Vehicles Lost Beneath the Waves—What Happened to These Sunken Machines?

A 40-Year-Old Graveyard Of Toyotas

The Red Sea near Sudan, Africa, holds a graveyard of sunken Toyota cars. These cars have been underwater for over 40 years. In 1977, the Saudi-Arabian cargo ship Grande America was transferring 181 cars, all of which were Toyotas. It ran aground in the Sha’b Suadi Reef, 50 miles north of Port Sudan.

Now known as the Blue Belt Shipwreck, this spot has become popular with divers. Most of the cars are heavily decayed, but you can still see some engines, steering wheels, and fenders. The fish seem to enjoy it, too.

This 1930s Airliner Is Almost Entirely Intact

Many planes that land in the ocean fall apart, usually from explosive dropping, harsh weather, or strong currents. But this World War II plane is remarkably intact. This is a Douglas DC3, an American airliner produced in the 1930s and ’40s, yet the inside and outside are almost perfectly preserved today.

It is unclear when this plane crashed, but it was likely in the 1930s. Divers found it off the coast of Turkey and think it had been transporting military supplies.

Sunken Tourist Buses In Britain

Dayhouse Quarry, also called Chepstow Quarry, is underneath the Wye River on the Wales-England border. The area has multiple sunken vehicles, including commercial trucks, double-decker British tourists buses, tanks, and even a helicopter. They have been there for decades.

These vehicles were purposefully sunk to create a training ground for divers. Even today, divers go there to swim around the vehicles and take unique underwater photos. There are so many stunning pictures from Dayhouse Quarry that it’s hard to pick a favorite!

To see a World War II plane that landed upside-down and crooked, continue reading.

In 2017, A New Military Aircraft Was Tossed Into The Ocean

As you can probably tell by the picture, this sinking was recent. The plane is a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine transport craft. It is known for transporting a large amount of cargo and passengers over long distances, but it also carried out medical missions.

So how did it end up underwater? In 2017, the Jordanian Air Force decided to sink one of these planes to create artificial reefs. Off the coast of Aqaba, Jordan, divers will find a 112-foot-long Hercules with a 132-foot wingspan.

A Mysterious Underwater Beetle

Not much is known about this underwater Volkswagen Beetle. It was found off the shore of Portugal and seems to be falling apart at the seams. Before dumping it into the sea, the mysterious owner removed the engine.

Since 1938, Volkswagen has produced 20 million Beetles. The original reached 25 horsepower and a top speed of 62 mph. In 1998, they launched the “New Beetle” which is often seen today.

This WWII Plane Is Upside-Down And Crooked

During World War II, a Messerschmitt Bf 109 crashed off the shore of Crete. This fighter aircraft was the backbone of the German Luftwaffe fighter force. But when this plane sank 78 feet below the surface, it landed upside-down and crooked.

Over time, this plane has straightened out and now lies on its back in the sand. But the Messerschmitt Bf 109 wreck is still popular among divers, as it has been submerged for around 80 years. It is unknown how this plane crashed and what happened to the pilots.

Up soon: an underwater Chevy Impala that someone sold for $9,000.

Hawaiian Fish And A World War II Plane Crash

The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-based fighter aircraft that flew in the American Air Corps during World War II. To this day, a crashed Corsair can still be found in O’ahu, Hawaii. It has become an artificial reef that feeds the native fish.

In 1948, the plane was on a routine mission when it started to sputter. The pilot achieved the perfect water landing, with the wheels up and flaps extended. He escaped the plane and was rescued, but the Corsair sank to the seafloor, where it remains today.

British Navy Trucks Sank With The SS Thistlegorm

This truck has been underwater for 80 years, along with many similar vehicles. It was a 1930s military truck that was being transported on a British Merchant Navy ship. When the ship sank, all the vehicles went with it.

In 1940, Joseph Thompson & Son built the SS Thistlegorm. The ship was designed to transport military vehicles, but it barely lasted a year. On October 6, 1941, German bombers sunk it near Ras Muhammad in the Red Sea. Today, the area is a popular site for divers to look at vintage cars.

To see an underwater graveyard of Japanese tanks, stay tuned.