On Thursday, Egypt’s Ministry of Environment made an exciting announcement about the creation of the first-ever underwater military museum in the Red Sea governorate. This unique attraction is expected to draw in tourists from all over and will be the first of its kind in both Egypt and Africa.

After years of careful planning, the Red Sea governorate has combined three different diving sites in Hurghada to help preserve the natural coral reefs in the area. The museum will not only promote diving tourism, but it will also create a new field of marine activities and showcase Egypt’s rich military history through breathtaking sea views.

“The new diving sites will feature 15 old army machines in specific locations… It took seven years of meticulous planning to prepare these sites,” remarked Egypt’s Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, during an inauguration ceremony on Thursday.

All of the vehicles chosen for the museum were unused for many years, and any parts that could be harmful to the environment were removed before being submerged to help foster coral growth. The museum is a collaborative effort between the Egyptian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA).