Underwater cultural heritage found in seas, rivers, oceans and lakes holds valuable information about the history of humankind, offering new perspectives on lost civilisations, trade routes, ancient maritime technologies and stories that might otherwise have been forgotten.

The date recalls the 2022 underwater archaeological mission on the Skerki Bank, on Tunisia's continental shelf, as well as the international cooperation involved in archaeological research in the Sicilian Channel. The mission brought together eight countries: Tunisia, Italy, Algeria, Egypt, France, Morocco, Spain and Croatia.

The International Day aims to raise awareness of emerging threats to underwater heritage, encourage dialogue and strengthen the protection of humanity's submerged legacy for future generations. UNESCO emphasises the need to raise global awareness of the importance of safeguarding underwater cultural heritage.

As UNESCO noted in the document shared following the General Conference:

“This international day would provide a high-profile platform to encourage scientific research, international  cooperation,  technological  innovation  and  the  inclusion  of  this  theme  in  national  educational and professional curricula”.

The International Day highlights how shared cultural heritage can foster dialogue and cooperation across borders. In this sense, protecting underwater heritage becomes not only an act of preservation, but also a form of cultural diplomacy.

• https://www.unesco.org/en/days/underwater-cultural-heritage
• https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000395324_eng
• https://www.unesco.org/en/underwater-heritage/25th-one-ocean-shared-heritage