Mashable: Oman is reportedly building its first underwater museum aiming to boost marine biodiversity.

Oman has begun work on its first underwater museum by making use of retired military equipment beneath the waves to construct an artificial reef as per the Environment Agency of Oman (EO).

According to the Gulf News, the primary objective of this museum is to protect marine biodiversity by restoring damaged coral reefs and providing new habitats for a plethora of marine species.

Oman’s first-ever underwater military museum will use a collection of submerged military hardware close to the famous Daymaniyat Islands Nature Reserve in South Batinah, as per the Muscat Daily.

 The Environment Authority, alongside the Ministry of Defense, kicks off the ‘Marine Equipment Sinking’ project. Transforming retired military gear into an underwater museum to boost coral reef growth at Dimaniyat Natural Reserve. 
.@eaoman #museum #متحف_تحت_الماء #oman pic.twitter.com/fBmWrn3T0q — omaspire (@omanspire) May 12, 2024

The ambitious project will offer a creative solution to safeguard as well as enrich the marine ecosystem.

This project is a collaboration between the Environment Authority and the Ministry of Defence, which involves placing decommissioned military equipment, including seven MAN Atlas trucks and a Skyvan aircraft, on the seabed to increase coral growth. The museum will also encourage marine life by creating a new ecosystem that mimics natural coral reefs.

“This initiative seeks to bolster eco-tourism by establishing a unique tourist attraction catered to diving enthusiasts, thereby enhancing Oman’s tourism sector,” said, Hamad al Ruzaiqi, Head of Coastal Areas Department at Environment Authority. “The museum will open its doors to diving enthusiasts in July. We anticipate witnessing coral reefs flourish within the next six months.”

Moreover, this project also aims to boost marine tourism by catering a unique attraction for tourists and divers, while relieving pressure on existing coral reef sites within the nature reserve.