Israel’s Mediterranean coast, with its submerged ancient cargo, shipwrecks and Herodian harbor, are a fabulous open museum of the world history of shipping.

In Caesarea you’ll find the only underwater archaeological park of its kind in the world.
On one of the park’s four routes all you have to do is snorkel to the end of the modern breakwater and you can see the technological marvel of Herod’s 2,000-year-old breakwater, which made Caesarea one of the Mediterranean’s most important harbors.

For first-time divers, after a half-hour’s instruction, you can dive with a guide to the ancient, submerged harbor, where almost 30 points of interest are marked. Among the highlights are “negatives” of the wooden forms Herod’s engineers used when they built the breakwater’s foundation––the earliest use ever of hydraulic cement; a collection of anchors from all historical periods; and the massive foundations of the great towers that guarded the entrance to the port. 
You’ll even receive laminated informational cards that guide you from one point to the next!

After you dry off, head for the Sdot Yam Archaeological Museum, with its display of underwater treasures, including an amazing collection of amphorae that went down with their ships, thousands of years ago.

www.caesarea.org.il

http://www.kef-yam.co.il/kefyam_tourism/en_tourism_museum_antiques.htm