Pylos Seeking Investments to Create Underwater Parks

Navarino Bay, Pylos.

Brimming with antiquities and historic relics, the Pylos-Nestor municipality in the Peloponnese is seeking partners in order to create two underwater archaeological parks where visitors will be able to see submerged treasures.

Pylos-Nestor Mayor Dimitris Kafantaris said on Sunday that he would be inviting tenders from investors in early 2017 for the construction of the parks, which are set to safeguard antiquities and boost local tourism, Xinhua reports.

“The development of diving parks can contribute as an alternative form of tourism. Underwater archaeology can play a significant role in reviving Greece’s debt-wrecked economy,” said Angeliki Simosi, archaeologist and head of Greece’s Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities.

Local authorities believe the project will work towards the creation of a new development model based on sustainability while tapping into the advantages of Greece and Pylos in diving tourism.

Historic highlights at Pylos include Navarino Bay, the battleground for two major naval wars, and the island of Sapienza, “home” to two shipwrecks from the Roman era.

Greece has been looking into showcasing its underwater findings including shipwrecks and marine sites of historic significance for quite some time now with the first underwater park set to be created in the waters surrounding the Greek island of Evia, local authorities said last year.