Following the discovery of what is believed to be Christoph Columbus' ship Santa Maria, sunken ships have sparked renewed interest. While they may not be the most common tourist spots, shipwrecks offer a wealth of historical knowledge. This list highlights ten remarkable shipwrecks, including naval ships, passenger ships, ferries, and cargo ships.

SS Thistlegorm, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt – completed in 1940, this naval ship served in the British Navy during the Second World War. It was sunk by German bombs in 1941, and now rests at the bottom of the Red Sea, attracting many divers.

RMS Rhone, Salt Island, England – this Royal Mail Ship (RMS) sank due to a storm on October 29, 1867, causing the death of 123 people. It is now one of the important diving sites in the Caribbean.

SMS Markgraf, Scapa Flow, Scotland – this German warship was deliberately sunk by admirals in 1919, after the defeat in the First World War. It is one of many ships resting at the bottom of Scapa Flow.

USAT Liberty, Bali, Indonesia – this supply ship was hit by a Japanese torpedo during World War II, and later washed ashore. In 1963, it was pushed back into the waters by the effect of magma leaking from a volcano eruption, making it a popular diving site.

MV Bianca C, Grenada – this huge cruise ship burned down due to a fire in 1961 after anchoring from Georges. It was built during the Second World War and sank once during its construction. It is now a favorite among divers.

MS Zenobia, Cyprus – this Swedish-origin ship sank with 104 vehicles on board during her maiden voyage in 1980. It was included in the '10 Most Beautiful Diving Sites' list by The Times in 2003, and now creates a beautiful area for divers with its size.

HMS Maori, Mediterranean Sea – this attack ship served in the Mediterranean Fleet and was sunk by German bombing in 1942. It was later brought to the surface from underwater and deliberately sunk near the harbor, now serving as one of the most popular diving sites.

USS President Coolidge, Vanuatu – completed in 1931, this luxury cruise ship was drafted into the navy during World War II and sank to the bottom of the waters near Vanuatu in 1942 when it hit a mine.

The Umbria, Port Sudan, Sudan – this cargo ship was used by the Italians during the Second World War, and the captain preferred to sink the ship rather than lose it to the British Navy in 1940 while loaded with ammunition. It now rests 38 meters below the surface.

USS Spiegel Grove, Key Largo, Florida Keys, USA – this is the largest ship ever deliberately sunk, and was launched in 1955. It was sunk in 2002 to become an artificial reef, and now serves as a favorite area for divers.