Alonissos: AFP praises the first underwater museum in Greece

“Here you are diving into history!”, Says an excited Austrian tourist after diving in the wreck of Peristera in Alonissos, in the first underwater museum in Greece, which is presented in a report by AFP.

The shipwreck, which according to experts dates back to about 425 BC, is at a depth of almost 30 meters, while at the bottom there are more than 4,000 amphorae and vessels carried by the ship.

“It really is a special and unique place because it is a mixture of diving and archeology,” said 48-year-old Hans-Jürgen Ferser after his dive.

In his statements to the French News Agency, the Greek Minister of Tourism Haris Theocharis explains that Greece decided to address “a special audience that pays generously for diving and chooses its destination based on the various diving options”.

“Our country has many tourist attractions” suitable for diving, adds Mr. Theocharis, clarifying that about ten underwater parks have already been licensed for similar activities.

Following the official opening of the Peristera Underwater Museum in June, Alonissos wants to make four more shipwrecks accessible to divers around the world and make it an attractive destination for diving professionals and amateurs, according to AFP.

“We want to offer another form of tourism to the people who come to the island,” explains Petros Vafinis, mayor of Alonissos.