MV Panagiotis, Zakynthos, Greece

Once considered majestic vessels of the sea, these shipwrecks — some beached on land, others sunken to the bottom of the ocean — provide a ghostly glimpse into history. Many of these haunting ruins are also luring tourists and serving as unique snorkeling and diving spots.

Genuine shipwreck or tourist bait? There's some controversy about the origins of the MV Panagiotis, which lies in a cove on the coast of Zakynthos in the Ionaian Islands of Greece. The popular belief is that the Panagiotis was a smuggler ship that wrecked in 1980, while the website VirtualGreece.net has stated that some locals believe the ship was placed in the cove by the Greek Ministry of Tourism. Whatever its true origins, the postcard-perfect shipwreck, which measures 163 feet in length and 26 feet in width, attracts thousands of visitors a year.

SS Sapona, Bimini, Bahamas

If you're a fan of cult horror films, the ghostly SS Sapona will look familiar—it has been featured in Ken Weider's 1977 movie, Shock Waves. Built during World War I, the concrete cargo vessel was stranded near Bimini during a hurricane in 1926. Today, it lies in about 15 feet of water and bears some scars of graffiti, but it’s still a much-visited and frequently photographed landmark. The site has also become a popular snorkeling and diving spot.

HMQS Gayundah, Redcliff, Australia

The HMQS Gayundah has seen a lot. First it was operated by the Royal Australian Navy from 1884 to 1921, then it was sold to Brisbane Gravel Pty Ltd and used as a gravel barge. But, on June 2, 1958, the Gayundah was finally put to rest. It was beached on the Redcliffe Peninsula north of Brisbane to serve as a breakwater structure to defend against weather and to protect the shore against longshore drift, according to the Australian Navy.

The Peter Iredale, Fort Stevens, Ore.

The Peter Iredale, holding a crew of 27, was heading from Salina Cruz, Mexico to Portland, Ore. in 1906 when high seas and wind caused the ship to run aground off the Oregon coast. There were no casualties, according to the Oregon Historical Society.

The bow of the ship remains in the sand at Fort Stevens State Park at the mouth of the Columbia River.

Evangelia, Costinesti, Romania

The Evangelia has been beached off the coast of Costinesti, Romania since the late 1960s. It was a business ship that was constructed by the same shipyard that built the Titanic – Harlnd & Wolff in Belfast, Ireland, according to ShipSpotting.com.

It was stranded in the Black Sea on Oct. 1968, when it sailed close to the coast and got stuck on rocks. The shipwreck is now a landmark of Costinesti and a very popular tourist destination.

SS Maheno, Fraser Island, Australia

The SS Maheno was a New Zealand ocean liner from 1905 to 1935 and was later used as a hospital ship during World War I. On July 7, 1935, the SS Maheno was being towed and its towline snapped during a cyclone 50 miles from the coast of Australia, according to Australian newspaper The Western Mail. The ship drifted off and was found three days later off the coast of Fraser Island. The remnants of the ship are still there today, but access is prohibited by the Australian Department of Defense due to dangerous conditions.

Point Reyes, Inverness, Calif.

The area around Point Reyes in California has always been tough for sailors to manage because of its strong currents, granite cliffs, strong winds and thick fog, according to the National Parks Association. Before the Point Reyes lighthouse was built in 1870 many ships and cargoes were lost on the rocks.

“Shipwrecks are a respected and protected part of Point Reyes National Seashore,” writes the National Parks Association. “They are archaeological sites that provide opportunities for scientific and historical research. More importantly, these wrecks serve as memorials to the work and sacrifice of the men and women who have made their lives on the sea.”

Tangalooma wrecks, Moreton Island, Australia

The wrecks at Tanglooma on Moreton Island were done deliberately in 1963 after boat owners lobbied for safe anchorage, according to Moreton Island Tourism & Visitor Information. The wrecks are made up of 15 steam-driven dredges and barges from Australia’s Harbours and Marine Department. The shipwrecks are a popular site for tourist to explore underwater.

Dimitrios, Valtaki, Greece

Located in the picturesque Valtaki beach near Gythios in Greece, the Dimitrios has been marooned since December 23, 1981. According to a book by Honorary Hellenic Coast Guard Christos Ntounis, the ship was abandoned due to financial and engine problems. The book states that the Dimitrios, built in 1950 with a capacity of 965 tons, was anchored outside the port of Gythios until it was swept away to the sea due to severe weather conditions. It finally ran aground in its current location, and no attempts have been made to recover it.

Shipwreck in Kaiolohia Bay, Lanai, Hawaii

Off the coast of Kaiolohia, also known as “Shipwreck Beach,” on the Hawaiian island of Lanai is the hull of a 1940s oil tanker on the bay’s coral reef, according to Hawaii’s Tourism Authority. “Shipwreck Beach” gets its name from the Kalohi Channel’s powerful currents, abundant reefs and shallow water.

Pesuta, Haida Gwaii, B.C., Canada

The Pesuta, a log barge, ran aground near the mouth of the Tlell River during a winter storm in 1928, according to Haida Gwaii Tourism site. Now the remains of the barge rest on the beach of Naikoon Provincial Park on the Haida Gwaii Islands, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, an archipelago on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada. The site is a part of several popular hiking trails.

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