18 beautiful beaches that have haunting shipwrecks with mysterious pasts

Zoë Miller,Zoë EttingerApr 24, 2020, 21:15 IST

Navagio Beach, Zakynthos, Greece.turtix / Shutterstock

There are many beaches around the world with the decaying remnants of once-great ships.
Unlike underwater shipwrecks like the Titanic, these can be seen in plain view.
On the shores of Boa Vista, in Cape Verde, lies the remains of a cargo ship that was delivering goods to South American supporters of Francisco Franco, who ruled Spain from 1939 to 1975.
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Even if most aren't as catastrophic as the sinking of the Titanic, shipwrecks continue to fascinate scientists and the public alike. While some wrecks require complex equipment to investigate, plenty can be seen on beaches around the world.

From the MV Plassey in Inisheer, Ireland, a steam trawler wreck famous from the British TV series "Father Ted," to Cape Verde's Cabo Santa Maria, a wrecked cargo ship that had been carrying gifts for Spanish dictator Francisco Franco's supporters in South America, each shipwreck has a story to tell.

Here are 15 beautiful beaches that have haunting shipwrecks you can can see from the comfort of your home — without sandals or scuba gear.

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Once a large cruise ship, the World Discover hit an uncharted reef in 2000, and has remained shipwrecked in the Solomon Islands ever since.

The wreck of the World Discover ship in the Solomon Islands. Mickrick/Getty Images

Nicknamed "Bad Eddie" this ship was towed into the Magheraclogher Beach in Donegal, Ireland, in 1977.

A shipwreck known as "Bad Eddie" in County Donegal, Ireland. Anna Gorin/Getty Images

Referred to by locals as "The Lost Boat", this shipwreck lies on Masirah, an island in the Arabian sea off the coast of Oman.

A shipwreck on Masirah Island, in Oman. John Seaton Callahan/Getty Images

After a storm in 2019, a shipwreck was exposed on the beach in Glowe, on the island of Rügen, Germany. It is believed by experts to be an 18th century merchant ship.

A shipwreck on the island of Rügen, in Germany. Stefan Sauer/Getty Images

After a storm in 2019, a shipwreck was exposed on the beach in Glowe, on the island of Rügen, Germany. It is believed by experts to be an 18th century merchant ship.

At a park in Ontario, Canada, there are more than 20 underwater shipwrecks such as the Sweepstakes, a sunken schooner in Big Tub Harbor.

The Sweepstakes, a sunken schooner, is a famous shipwreck at Ontario's Fathom Five National Marine Park. Kibrok Photography/Shutterstock

On Anguilla's Sandy Ground beach, the wreck of the Sarah, a 232-foot-long ship that sank during Hurricane Klaus in 1984, looms large.

The wreck of the Sarah on Anguilla's Sandy Ground beach. Kristopher Kettner/Shutterstock

Rumor has it that the Agios Dimitrios in Gythio of Peloponnese, Greece, was set on fire to conceal the fact that it was smuggling cigarettes between Turkey and Italy.

The Agios Dimitrios in Gythio of Peloponnese, Greece. Shutterstock

The wreck of the storied SS American Star has been eroding since it was beached on Playa de Garcey in Fuertaventura, one of the Canary Islands, in 1994.

You'll find the wreck of the American Star off the coast of Fuertaventura in Spain's Canary Islands. elitravo/Shutterstock

A shipwreck at the Point Reyes National Seashore in Inverness, California, where more than 50 ships were lost at sea, stands as a poignant symbol of US maritime history.

The wreck of the SS Point Reyes is beached on a sandbar in Inverness, California. Shutterstock

A shipwreck at the Point Reyes National Seashore in Inverness, California, where more than 50 ships were lost at sea, stands as a poignant symbol of US maritime history.

Some shipwrecks in Roatán, Honduras, were intentionally sunk so scuba divers could explore them.

A shipwreck in Mahogany Bay in Roatán, Honduras. RaksyBH/Shutterstock

The wreck of the MV Plassey on the shore of Inisheer, one of Ireland's Aran Islands, is featured in the British TV series "Father Ted".

The wreck of the MV Plassey on the island of Inisheer in Ireland's Galway Bay. shutterupeire/Shutterstock

In Greece, the Ionian island of Zakynthos harbors the wreck of the MV Panagiotis. The site where it was stranded is nicknamed Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach).

The wreck of the MV Panagiotis on Greece's Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach). Agia/Shutterstock

The ethereal remains of the Helvetia, a 19th-century Norwegian ship, are scattered over three miles of sand in Rhossili Bay, a beach in Swansea, Wales.

The wreck of the Helvetia in Swansea's Rhossili Bay. CT Aylward/Getty Images

The beached wreck of an unknown tugboat is in Vila Nova de Milfontes, a picturesque seaside village in Odemira, Portugal.

An unknown tugboat is shipwrecked on a beach in Vila Nova de Milfontes in Odemira, Portugal. Nuno Maia/Shutterstock

The Cabo Santa Maria, sent to South America by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco with gifts for his supporters, was wrecked on the shore of Boa Vista, Cape Verde.

The Cabo Santa Maria ran aground on Boa Vista while en route to South America. Lucian Milasan/Shutterstock

Used as a hospital ship during World War I, the SS Maheno was wrecked by a cyclone on Fraser Island in Queensland, Australia, en route to Japan.

The wreck of the SS Maheno off the coast of Fraser Island in Queensland, Australia. Shutterstock

The Mega One Triton, a former oil rig, washed ashore on Governor's Beach on Grand Turk Island, Turks and Caicos, in 2012 during Hurricane Sandy.

The wreck of the Mega One Triton on Governor's Beach on Grand Turk Island in Turks and Caicos. John Wollwerth/Shutterstock

The wreck of the Peter Iredale, a steel barque sailing vessel that was beached more than 100 years ago, is in Oregon's Fort Stevens State Park.

The wreck of the Peter Iredale is beached on the Oregon coast. Dee Browning/Shutterstock

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18 beautiful beaches that have haunting shipwrecks with mysterious pasts

Once a large cruise ship, the World Discover hit an uncharted reef in 2000, and has remained shipwrecked in the Solomon Islands ever since.

Nicknamed "Bad Eddie" this ship was towed into the Magheraclogher Beach in Donegal, Ireland, in 1977.

Referred to by locals as "The Lost Boat", this shipwreck lies on Masirah, an island in the Arabian sea off the coast of Oman.

After a storm in 2019, a shipwreck was exposed on the beach in Glowe, on the island of Rügen, Germany. It is believed by experts to be an 18th century merchant ship.

At a park in Ontario, Canada, there are more than 20 underwater shipwrecks such as the Sweepstakes, a sunken schooner in Big Tub Harbor.

On Anguilla's Sandy Ground beach, the wreck of the Sarah, a 232-foot-long ship that sank during Hurricane Klaus in 1984, looms large.

Rumor has it that the Agios Dimitrios in Gythio of Peloponnese, Greece, was set on fire to conceal the fact that it was smuggling cigarettes between Turkey and Italy.

The wreck of the storied SS American Star has been eroding since it was beached on Playa de Garcey in Fuertaventura, one of the Canary Islands, in 1994.

A shipwreck at the Point Reyes National Seashore in Inverness, California, where more than 50 ships were lost at sea, stands as a poignant symbol of US maritime history.

Some shipwrecks in Roatán, Honduras, were intentionally sunk so scuba divers could explore them.

The wreck of the MV Plassey on the shore of Inisheer, one of Ireland's Aran Islands, is featured in the British TV series "Father Ted".

In Greece, the Ionian island of Zakynthos harbors the wreck of the MV Panagiotis. The site where it was stranded is nicknamed Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach).

The ethereal remains of the Helvetia, a 19th-century Norwegian ship, are scattered over three miles of sand in Rhossili Bay, a beach in Swansea, Wales.

The beached wreck of an unknown tugboat is in Vila Nova de Milfontes, a picturesque seaside village in Odemira, Portugal.

The Cabo Santa Maria, sent to South America by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco with gifts for his supporters, was wrecked on the shore of Boa Vista, Cape Verde.

Used as a hospital ship during World War I, the SS Maheno was wrecked by a cyclone on Fraser Island in Queensland, Australia, en route to Japan.

The Mega One Triton, a former oil rig, washed ashore on Governor's Beach on Grand Turk Island, Turks and Caicos, in 2012 during Hurricane Sandy.

The wreck of the Peter Iredale, a steel barque sailing vessel that was beached more than 100 years ago, is in Oregon's Fort Stevens State Park.