Military tanks, a helicopter and an ambulance are just some of the items that can be found resting on the seabed near the Jordanian city of Aqaba, in a bid to form the country's first underwater military museum and promote marine life.
Aqaba residents stood at the shore watching and taking photos as a helicopter and a tank were slowly submerged into the water.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The city's Special Economic Zone, which is responsible for promoting business and tourism in the city, hopes the underwater structures will encourage more diving enthusiasts to visit by enhancing the environment for marine life.
The museum will also relieve the pressure on natural reefs by drawing visitors away from those sites.
Video: Reuters
A total of 19 military vehicles and machines have been submerged in the sea after weeks of planning and pinpointing appropriate locations to ensure that the process would not harm natural marine life in the area.
Some have landed at 15-20 meters (yards) below the surface, while other objects can be found deeper, at 20-30 meters.
Aqaba resident Asmaa Riyaty, who learned how to dive from her father, often goes diving to enjoy looking at a tank "that looks beautiful," she said. The 17-year-old is looking forward to going into the water with family members to see a helicopter that she watched being lowered from the shore.
The museum is the latest addition to the diving sites in the area. The Aqaba seabed is also home to a C-130 Hercules jet sunk last year, as well as a tank and shipwreck which were submerged in the late 90s. These have become popular diving sites with rich coral reefs and an active marine life.
Local diving instructor Samy al-Azrat hopes the latest additions will attract more tourists and business.
Tourism is one of the country's main sources of foreign currency and constitutes around 10% of the country's GDP.
