<strong>Red Sea resting place: </strong>This Lockheed Martin L1011 Tristar airplane was photographed underwater in the Red Sea by US diving expert Brett Hoelzer.
Red Sea resting place: This Lockheed Martin L1011 Tristar airplane was photographed underwater in the Red Sea by US diving expert Brett Hoelzer.
Brett Hoelzer/Deep Blue Dive Center
<strong>Runway to reef: </strong>The jet plane was placed in the waters in the Gulf of Aqaba in 2019 to create an environment to help encourage coral growth.
Runway to reef: The jet plane was placed in the waters in the Gulf of Aqaba in 2019 to create an environment to help encourage coral growth.
Brett Hoelzer/Deep Blue Dive Center
<strong>Inside the plane: </strong>The interior of the plane is largely intact, allowing divers to explore the cockpit, main cabin -- complete with seating rows -- and the galley.
Inside the plane: The interior of the plane is largely intact, allowing divers to explore the cockpit, main cabin -- complete with seating rows -- and the galley.
Brett Hoelzer/Deep Blue Dive Center
<strong>Left to rot: </strong>The Lockheed, which entered service in the 1980s and saw action with several commercial passenger airlines, had been abandoned for many years at an airport near the Red Sea before it was submerged.
Left to rot: The Lockheed, which entered service in the 1980s and saw action with several commercial passenger airlines, had been abandoned for many years at an airport near the Red Sea before it was submerged.
Brett Hoelzer/Deep Blue Dive Center
<strong>At an angle: </strong>Hoelzer says the plane lies at a depth of 15 to 28 meters, with the plane's tail at the deepest end. "The cockpit is the shallowest part of the wreck and faces the beach at about 13 meters," he says.
At an angle: Hoelzer says the plane lies at a depth of 15 to 28 meters, with the plane's tail at the deepest end. "The cockpit is the shallowest part of the wreck and faces the beach at about 13 meters," he says.
Brett Hoelzer/Deep Blue Dive Center
<strong>Underwater garden: </strong>After three years in the water, the plane's wings now shelter numerous soft corals. The fuselage is surrounded by huge sponges populated by a variety of sea life.
Underwater garden: After three years in the water, the plane's wings now shelter numerous soft corals. The fuselage is surrounded by huge sponges populated by a variety of sea life.
Brett Hoelzer/Deep Blue Dive Center
<strong>Aquatic adventure: </strong>"This adventure gives a realistic diving experience inside a real commercial aircraft," Hoelzer says.
Aquatic adventure: "This adventure gives a realistic diving experience inside a real commercial aircraft," Hoelzer says.
Brett Hoelzer/Deep Blue Dive Center