“You are plunging into history here!”, says an excited Austrian tourist after diving into the wreck of Peristera off Alonissos, in the first underwater museum in Greece, being presented in a report by AFP.

The shipwreck, which according to experts dates back to about 425 B.C, is at a depth of almost 30 meters, while on the seabed there are more than 4,000 amphorae and vessels that had been the ship’s cargo.

“It really is an unusual, unique place because it is a mixture of diving and archaeology,” said 48 year old Hans-Jürgen Ferscher after his dive.

In his statements to the French News Agency, Greek Minister of Tourism Haris Theocharis, explains that Greece has decided to address “a particular public that pays generously for diving and chooses its destination based on the various diving options”. Mr. Theocharis  adds that “Our country has many tourist attractions suitable for diving”, pointing out 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 to change the island into an attractive destination for diving professionals and amateurs, reports the AFP.

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