Divers are returning to ancient Tyre’s submerged ruins, unscathed in Lebanon war
Beneath the Mediterranean waters off the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, divers swim past stone walls, ancient structures and a submerged road — remnants of parts of a city that once stood above the water. With a shaky ceasefire in place after the latest Israel-Hezbollah war, visitors are returning to Tyre, a city known for its Roman ruins and its much older Phoenician history. Diving operators say interest in the underwater archaeological sites is increasing, though the number of visitors remains below prewar levels. “The diving season is not like it used to be before, but the number of people coming to dive to see the ruins is increasing day by day,” said Yousef al-Jundi, manager of the Lebanon Diving Center. The remains underwater are part of Tyre’s wider archaeological landscape. UNESCO says substantial archaeological remains of the ancient city are submerged, while underwater archaeological research has documented walls, harbor structures and other remains along the former island and coastline. “This is the identity of this city, which tells us how old this city is and what its history is,” al-Jundi said. He said the underwater sites attract divers from around the world who want to see what is commonly described as Tyre’s “sunken city.” Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Newsletter email address Get it By signing up, you agree to the terms Tyre was one of the major Phoenician maritime cities of antiquity, with trading networks that extended across the Mediterranean. The city was also famous for its purple dye and later became an important Greek and Roman center. Its archaeological remains were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1984. The war raised concerns over the preservation of those remains, both on land and underwater. Manager of the Lebanon Diving Center Youssef al-Jundi, right, takes video of Roman-era columns at an archaeological site near the coast in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, September 17, 2026. (Bilal Hussein/AP) “We were worried about the archaeological sites on land, which were affected by the war and the strikes, but at the same time we were also worried about the archaeological sites underwater, but thank God they were not affected,” al-Jundi said. Advertisement Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the war on March 2 by attacking Israel in support of its Iranian patrons, prompting Israeli airstrikes and a subsequent ground invasion of southern Lebanon. Before a ceasefire took hold in late June, Tyre came under intense Israeli airstrikes, with neighborhoods in the coastal city heavily damaged during the fighting. UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee placed Tyre on its List of World Heritage in Danger in July 2026, citing the threat and damage caused by the ongoing hostilities. Ali Badawi of Lebanon’s Directorate General of Antiquities said protecting the underwater sites remains a challenge. “They’re not very well protected,” Badawi said, adding that “encroachments” sometimes happen. “But we are trying very hard through surveys and research that we’re conducting, and we’re trying to develop laws to ensure their safety in the future.” Manager of the Lebanon Diving Center Youssef al-Jundi passes above an ancient passageway at an archaeological site near the coast in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, September 17, 2026. (Bilal Hussein/AP)Tyre Badawi said the authorities also want to expand research and investment in underwater tourism, including the creation of underwater archaeological parks that would allow more visitors to see the sites. The effort comes as Tyre seeks to rebuild its tourism sector after the war, while preserving archaeological remains that reflect thousands of years of the city’s history. Help us report truthfully on social media As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos. This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world. If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism , please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting. — Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist Support our work Support our work Already a member? 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Sign in to stop seeing this Most Popular 1 Gunman opens fire outside Ontario synagogue on Yom Kippur; police officer seriously wounded 2 Leading US Reform rabbi in Yom Kippur sermon: Unhinged, obsessive loathing of Israel is corrupting US values 3 Analysis As Iran and Houthis tighten the screws on Saudi Arabia, a potential role emerges for Israel 4 Iran’s military command says it’s been informed US plans to resume strikes 5 Israel shuts down for Yom Kippur, after deadly West Bank terror shooting and with IDF on high alert 6 Ed Sheeran says Gaza situation ‘unjustifiable’ amid ongoing outcry over Macklemore’s ouster 7 Pew poll finds majority of Israelis and Palestinian say two-state coexistence impossible 8 Father of six shot dead in West Bank terror attack near natural spring, IDF catches shooter read more: Israel & the Region Tyre Lebanon 2026 Israel-Hezbollah conflict Hezbollah archaeology marine archaeology If you’d like to comment, join The Times of Israel Community. 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