IZMIR, Turkey (2 Mar 2009) — Another scuba diving park is set to open for business. The world's second underwater "Archeopark" aims to attract recreational scuba divers to Izmir's Mordoğan district. Mordoğan Mayor Ahmet Cakir said the project should boost tourism with value-added underwater product that attracts amateur scuba divers. Archaeologist Osman Erkurt said construction of a replica of a trading vessel that sank around 600 BC has been completed and the ship was scuttled about 150 meters offshore where the depth is 15 meters. In order to protect ancient shipwreck and other submerged cultural resources from scuba looters, Turkey strictly regulates scuba diving at wreck sites. The regulations effectively ban amateur scuba divers from exploring shipwrecks in Turkey's coastal waters. The Archeopark project is supported by the 360 Degree History Researches Foundation, the İzmir Underwater Foundation, Ankara University, the Mordoğan Municipality and the İzmir Sea Trading Chamber. | 
