Tyre underwater archeological and natural snorkeling trail

Marine activities in Tyre Coast Nature Reserve

Tyre’s underwater natural and heritage snorkeling trails

Price: 15,000 – 25,000

Available at the Jamal Area including gears and guide

Description:

Tyre snorkeling trail is conceived both as a new innovative eco-tourism product and as educational tools to raise awareness to the value and vulnerability of natural and cultural heritage. It offers to swimmers of all levels secured and accessible information about submerged historical secrets and marine biodiversity assets of Tyre waters while promoting eco-responsible attitudes.

As early as May, visitors may use the activity with provided equipment, orientation, and an informative snorkeling tour that last approximately 40 minutes in the water, passes by an ancient wave breaker, stone quarry and fallen columns with good possibility of watching a sea turtle along the way.

Trail visited upon reservation through:

Tel: 00961 3 865231 – 00961 7 351341

Email: tcnr98@hotmail.com

Tyre Coast Nature Reserve (TCNR) in partnership with Tyr Municipality and ARESMAR, have decided to set up with the support of MedPan funds and experience, the first underwater snorkeling trail in Lebanon, within the city of Tyre, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, to protect and enhance the value of underwater remains and sea turtles through ecotourism activity and awareness targeting the local community including youth, restaurants and clients.

” An underwater trail results from a combination of three elements which, in synergy, give the concept a specific identity : exploration in water, using light equipment, a site, usually at sea, and an educational focus designed to bring about behavioral change.

An underwater trail is a concrete example of action taken for the sustainable development of a territory. Social, economic and environmental aspects can be taken into account, integrating land-sea continuity, which is important to understand and address issues on our coastlines.” (MedPan – Underwater Trail Handbook)

Following on two marine surveys 29 different fish species have been recognized and the majority of species are juvenile but threatened by overfishing. Regulations must be enforced to regenerate this ecosystem. In spring 2014, the municipality made the decision to conduct marine patrols to prevent illegal fishing and revive the marine life.

Sea turtles:

The sea turtle takes between 17 to 30 years to become an adult and lives about 100 years.

In Lebanon there are two species of sea turtles that lay their eggs on our sandy beaches:  Green and loggerhead sea turtles. They face many threats including tourism development, beach degradation, light pollution, fishing and irresponsible behavior of humans.

The loggerhead measures and weighs about 90cm and 135Kg. They have more than one pair of prefrontal scales and 5 lateral scales.

The green measures between 78 – 112 cm and weighs between 68 – 190 kg and possess a pair of prefrontal scales and 4 lateral scales.

The loggerhead is carnivorous and feeds on crustaceans, crabs, sea urchins, sea sponges and jellyfish, fish. Since 1990, being considered vulnerable, it has been listed on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Animals.

N.B.:

Swim at a comfortable distance from the turtle and away from the beak

Feeding the turtle could change its natural behavior

Stressing the turtle can push it away

Gathering around the turtle in an aggressive way may scare away the turtle or push her to make an attack

Murex

For the murex, everything starts from a legend …

« The legend tells that the discovery of the purple was attributed to the god Melqart Heracles. While he was walking on the beach with the nymph Tyros, his dog found a Murex and munched on it. Its jaws tinged purple color. The nymph admired the color and asked the God to offer her a cloth with such a beautiful color. In order to please his sweetheart, Melqart, ordered to collect the seashells and to prepare a tincture of this crimson color, and make a dyed tunic witch delight the heart of the nymph.

This is how the people of Tyr strated to make purple and market it. The city of Tyre buys the silk and then dyes it with purple before exporting it. It is used by the rich who could pay such wealth. »

Currency of Tyre – Murex

Insert representing the scene of the legend with the 3 characters on the beach.

Underwater Trail map

The Tyre underwater trail is visited upon reservation through:

Email: tcnr98@hotmail.com

Tel: 03/ 865231 – 07/ 351341

Two species of sea turtles nesting in the Mediterranean have been recorded in Lebanon, namely, Green and Loggerhead sea turtles.

Tyre Coast Nature Reserve is an important nesting site for these species that come to lay eggs from May to July while hatching occurs in early August to October from each season.

1. Sea turtles species:
2. Chelonia mydas, green turtle:   

• Carapace length: 105 cm
• weight: up to 180 kg

1. Caretta carettaloggerhead turtle:

• Carapace length: 90 cm
• Weight: up to  105  kg

1. Dermochelys coriaceaLeatherback turtle:

• Carapace length: 256 cm
• Weight: up to 916 kg.

A resting/sleeping turtle can remain underwater for over 4-7 hours

2. Nesting:

The nesting process consists of 8 stages:

1. Mating
2. Emerging from sea, making tracks
3. Cleaning nesting site
4. Digging using her rear flippers
5. Laying eggs
6. Covering using her rear flippers
7. Camouflaging by throwing dry sand behind her
8. Returning to sea, leaving tracks

3. Threats:  التهديدات
4. Beach degradation
5. Sand compaction
6. Light pollution
7. Divers Pollution
8. Bycatch
9. Boat strike
10. Tourism development
11. Natural predation

4. Diet: النظام الغذائي
5. Caretta caretta:

Loggerheads like mollusk, fish, jellyfish, shrimp, and clam.

1. Chelonia mydas:

Green sea turtles are primary vegetarian.

1. Dermochelys coriacea:

Leatherbacks like soft-bodied animals like jellyfish

Kayaking, pedal boat, cycling and snorkeling:

It’s an eco-friendly outdoor activity which allow people to interact with nature without any harm to the environment.

This peaceful activity is perfect for a couple of hours out in the sea either alone, or with friends or loved ones. Try it out around the city in Tyre it costs a mere 15,000 LL for one person an hour, and 25,000 LL for 2 people per hour.

You can also hire the kayaks for a guided tour to discover archaeological site visits around the historic area. Make sure you call in advance to secure a Kayak! Check out their Instagram & Facebook page for more. (LiveLoveKayak / KayakLebanon)

• Events:
  • Sea Kayaking & A Touch of Yoga (Get your swimwear & yoga pants on and head down to Tyre for a magical day! Warm up your bodies with a 30 minute Body-Balance class & explore Tyre’s incredible beaches on a Kayak!).
  • Sea Kayaking & Ruins visit in Tyre (Get your swimwear on and head down to sour for a magical day on a kayak! Exploring Sour’s history and incredible ocean, join this tour which includes a few walking stops to get the full experience and feel of the city’s culture).
  • Night Kayaking & Dinner under the Full Moon (Head down to Tyre for a charming evening under the full moon! Enjoy the most blissful moon while kayaking and having dinner in the magical waters of Tyre).

Contact: Bachir Borkhoch / Tel: 00961 03036811 / kayaklebanon@gmail.com

Pedal

• Rental Price: Single: 20,000 LBP – Double 30,000 LBP

Contact: Bachir Borkhoch / Tel: 00961 03036811 / kayaklebanon@gmail.com