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When we think of cities lost beneath the waves, Atlantis is often the first to come to mind. As Plato described it, Atlantis was a land of vast riches, brimming with natural resources and flourishing with greenery. Its inhabitants were believed to have constructed awe-inspiring temples, flaunted their wealth, and crafted monumental statues dedicated to the gods.
Once a favored and privileged civilization, the Atlanteans succumbed to greed and spiritual corruption, unable to appreciate their prosperity. As a result, Zeus handed Atlantis over to Poseidon, and the city was eventually engulfed by the ocean.
It's an intriguing tale. But it’s likely just a myth. The legendary city of Atlantis has never been discovered. Nonetheless, numerous real sunken cities exist around the globe. Here are ten of them.
10. Dunwich
During the 11th century, Dunwich was one of the most prominent towns in England. However, a series of powerful storms in the 13th and 14th centuries eroded the coastline, submerging much of the town beneath the sea. For years, fierce storms struck the shores of Dunwich, and the town's residents desperately dug defensive ditches in an effort to protect their homes from the rising waters, but the relentless sea ultimately overwhelmed them.
Dunwich was clearly a substantial settlement. Underwater explorers have uncovered the remnants of four churches, a toll house, numerous homes, and even the wreckage of a ship that had been stranded on the town's shores.
A 3-D model of the sunken city is displayed in the local museum, but diving at the site is challenging due to the pitch-black waters. Visibility is extremely limited, making photography nearly impossible. However, divers have managed to map the seafloor by touch, documenting their findings with great care. Ongoing archaeological work continues at the location.
9. Baiae
The partially submerged city of Baiae is located about 16 kilometers (10 miles) west of Naples. An ancient Roman settlement, Baiae is believed to have been named after Baios, the helmsman who guided Ulysses’s ship. Baiae was renowned for its pleasant living conditions, with a temperate climate, lush vegetation, and therapeutic hot springs. It was essentially a paradise. The city featured many lavish villas, grand public structures, and the iconic Roman-style baths that were so popular among the Romans.
Baiae earned a reputation for indulgence, with Sextus Propertius famously referring to it as a “den of licentiousness and vice.” It was undoubtedly a luxurious place to live, and for many centuries, it stood as one of the most significant cities in the Roman Empire. Among its notable residents was Gaius Calpurnius Piso, who once conspired to assassinate Emperor Nero. When Nero discovered the plot, he commanded Piso to take his own life. Divers have uncovered Piso’s villa, along with another believed to have belonged to the emperor himself.
Given the vast wealth of its inhabitants, it is likely that many more treasures still lie undiscovered beneath Baiae’s ruins. It is believed that volcanic activity in the region caused part of the city to sink into the Gulf of Naples, remaining lost for centuries.
Archaeological investigations of Baiae have been ongoing since 1941. Thanks to the clarity of the surrounding waters, divers have been able to thoroughly explore and document the site. Remarkably well-preserved parts of the submerged city remain, including intricate mosaic floors that have survived nearly 1700 years underwater. Divers have also found roads, walls, and statues of Ulysses and Baios, still standing as if carefully placed only yesterday.
8. Heracleion
The ancient Egyptian city of Heracleion disappeared beneath the waves over a thousand years ago. Once believed to be a mere legend, the city—allegedly visited by Helen of Troy and Paris, her lover—was rediscovered in 1999 by archaeologist Franck Goddio.
Still being excavated, the site has revealed an abundance of treasures, including enormous statues reaching up to 5 meters (16 feet) in height. Heracleion began sinking into the sea during the third century, likely due to the overwhelming weight of its grand buildings. By the eighth century, it had vanished completely.
Hundreds of statues and stone slabs inscribed in both Greek and ancient Egyptian have been uncovered and brought to the surface, alongside gold coins and numerous sarcophagi, which may have once housed mummified animals as offerings to the gods.
Archaeologists have discovered hundreds of shipwrecks, providing evidence that Heracleion once served as a major trading hub. The city's center was dominated by an enormous temple dedicated to Amun-Gereb, the chief Egyptian god of the era.
At the time of its construction, Heracleion would have been situated at the mouth of the Nile Delta, although today it lies submerged beneath 46 meters (150 feet) of water in the Bay of Aboukir.
7. Ravenser Odd
Ravenser Odd was a medieval pirate settlement located in Yorkshire, England. It served as the first accessible landing point for ships traveling from Scandinavia, where locals—often thieves, wanderers, and pirates—would row out and 'convince' ships to dock there.
The people of Ravenser Odd were exempt from taxes, and the town operated autonomously, with its own mayor, court, prisons, and even gallows. Additionally, they were granted the authority to tax any ships they had 'persuaded' to dock, which explains the locals' enthusiastic methods.
Over time, the relentless sea gradually consumed the town. With each high tide, the water eroded the land more, causing walls to collapse into the mud, and even the churchyard surrendered its graves to the sea. As the population fled, they succumbed to their instincts, looting the churches on their way out.
The final destruction, known as The Great Drowning, occurred in January 1362 when a violent storm and unusually high tides submerged Ravenser Odd permanently.
6. Kekova
The town on the Turkish island of Kekova sank into the sea after an earthquake in the second century AD. While historical records are unclear, the island was evidently a significant location during the Byzantine era. Today, the ruins are visible beneath the clear waters of the Mediterranean, and locals earn extra income by offering boat trips to tourists to see the submerged site.
Since 1990, the area has been under protection, though visitors are still welcome. You can see partially submerged ruins emerging from the water, as well as buildings with stone staircases leading into the sea—quite a sight. Unfortunately, due to the site's protected status, snorkeling is not allowed.
5. Atlit Yam
Located 1 kilometer (0.6 mi) off the coast of Israel in the Mediterranean Sea, Atlit Yam is remarkably well-preserved. Human skeletons remain in their graves, and a stone circle still stands. The site offers a glimpse into a world frozen in time.
Atlit Yam is one of the earliest known sunken cities. It features large homes with stone floors, fireplaces, and wells (though now mostly obsolete). The city was hidden beneath the sea for around 9,000 years until quarrying activities uncovered its remains. In 1984, marine archaeologist Ehud Galili recognized the significance of the site during a shipwreck search and began efforts to protect and preserve it.
Due to the age of the site, exposing certain areas to the air could cause them to deteriorate. As a result, artifacts are only removed from the seabed if they're at risk of being damaged by the underwater environment. Archaeologists patiently wait for the shifting currents to reveal new details, allowing them to map the site more thoroughly.
The site features a monolithic stone circle, similar to those found at Stonehenge, though on a smaller and submerged scale. Analysis of human remains discovered at the site revealed evidence of tuberculosis, indicating that the disease existed 3,000 years earlier than previously believed.
4. Shicheng
Shicheng, also known as Lion City, in China, was intentionally submerged in 1959 during the construction of the Xin’an Dam. This relocation displaced 300,000 people, leaving the city to be flooded. The city, around 600 years old, was known for its remarkable traditional Chinese architecture.
Shicheng remained untouched until 2001, when the Chinese government conducted a survey to assess the remnants of the city, sparking growing interest. Divers discovered incredibly well-preserved statues of lions, phoenixes, dragons, and other animals, along with ancient structures dating back to the 16th century.
Today, divers have the opportunity to explore the submerged city, which lies as deep as 40 meters (131 ft) beneath the surface. The ruins are exceptionally well-preserved, with the cold waters preventing even the wooden staircases of houses from decaying.
3. Olous
Olous is located in shallow waters beneath the crystal-clear blue sea off the northern coast of Crete. Once an influential port town in the first millennium BC, it was so prosperous that it even minted its own currency.
Olous was famously known as the city of fountains. Fearing that pirates would seize their treasures, the people of Olous allegedly dug 100 fountains into the surrounding mountains. While 99 of these wells only contained water, the last one was said to hide the combined wealth of the town. This treasure has never been found.
The precise cause of Olous's demise remains unclear. It is possible that a volcanic eruption led to its destruction, or perhaps the city gradually sank due to natural erosion.
If you plan to visit Olous, snorkeling will allow you to glimpse the sunken city. However, since the ruins are part of an ongoing archaeological excavation, nothing can be removed—unless, of course, you happen to discover that elusive 100th fountain. But who would ever know?
2. Cambay
In December 2000, scientists announced the discovery of a massive lost city in the Gulf of Cambay (also known as the Gulf of Khambhat) off the western coast of India. Lying 37 meters (120 ft) underwater, the city spans 8 kilometers (5 miles) in length and 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) in width, and is believed to be over 9,000 years old.
The site was discovered by chance during a survey on pollution. Among the artifacts uncovered were sections of wall, sculptures, and human remains.
Since the discovery, there has been debate about the age of the artifacts and whether the stone items are truly man-made. If they are indeed authentic, it would make them a remarkable find—4,000 years older than the Indus Valley Civilization. Some speculate that the city was submerged by rising waters during the last ice age, leading to the intriguing question of how many other ancient cities may lie hidden beneath the sea.
1. Neapolis
In 2017, archaeologists uncovered the lost city of Neapolis, located off the coast of Tunisia, which had been drowned by a tsunami 1,700 years ago. The ruins reveal streets, monuments, and numerous containers used to produce garum, a fish sauce that was widely enjoyed at the time (long before the invention of ketchup).
Neapolis played a significant role as an industrial hub during the Roman era and is believed to have been the primary center for the production of fish sauce in the Roman world. The ruins span across 50 acres, and it is thought that the area was submerged following a devastating tsunami in July AD 365. This same tsunami, triggered by an earthquake of at least magnitude 8.0, also destroyed Alexandria.
So far, aside from the fish barrels, little treasure has been uncovered by archaeologists. However, work continues at the site, so there’s always the chance they might stumble upon more culinary-related relics. Maybe one day they’ll find chips to go with that sauce!
