Marine archaeologists, as part of the Herakles Project led by experts from the University of Cadiz, have identified 151 underwater archaeological sites in the Bay of Algeciras. These discoveries range from the 5th century BC to World War II.

Among the relics are remains of Punic trading ships, Roman vessels, medieval Islamic boats, and even an 18th-century Spanish gunboat known as Puente Mayorga IV. The Strait of Gibraltar became a deadly bottleneck for ships over thousands of years, a site of battles and victim to intense currents and sudden weather changes.

Using advanced sonar scans, magnetometers, and digital mapping tools, the team has documented dozens of previously unknown wrecks buried beneath layers of sand and sediment. Scientists, however, warn that this underwater treasure trove is threatened by modern shipping, port expansion, dredging operations, and climate change, which could destroy remains hidden for over 2,400 years.