Turkey's most popular diving town, Kas, now has an underwater archeological park. The Kas Underwater Historical Research Association (DETAD), created the park, by sinking a ship, Uluburun-III, and then planting imitation artifacts around it. The project was realized with the assistance of many volunteers and took roughly a year to complete. The project began with an open-sea voyage by Uluburun- III, captained by Osman Erkut. The vessel was built by the 360° Research Group, based on the design of the original Uluburun, an ancient shipwrecked ship off the coast of Kas. In August 2005 another Uluburun, Uluburun-II, sailed to Cyprus, following the same route the original ship did 3,300 years ago. Upon the return of the ship from Cyprus, then Kas Governor Nurullah Çakir proposed that the boat remain in the coastal waters where its precursor had been discovered. In the following days the idea of a harbor reflecting the life of the Bronze Age, in which Uluburun-II could be exhibited, came up from this sprang the concept of an underwater archeological park. The Society for Naval History (DETAD) was formed by the 360° Research Group, Underwater Research Association and volunteers from Kas in order to realize these two projects. In September 2006 DETAD constructed the Uluburun-III, destined to be sunk for the archeological park. The ship was submerged on Oct. 27, 2006 in the Bay of Hidayet, home to the park. Uluburun-III is not the only artifact in the park. Imitations of the original ship's load of copper and bronze bullion, earthenware pots and Kenan amphorae have also been planted on the wreck, according to the plan of where the originals were found when the shipwreck was discovered in 1982. The shipwreck and its environs, termed “in situ,” is divided into a grid just as in real underwater excavations. Talks are underway with the British Nautical Archeological Society (NAS) over using the Kas Underwater archeological park for educational purposes, as well as recreational diving. Source: Turkish Daily News