World Art Utopia

Coral World Underwater Observatory

A visitor seen in silhouette at a window of the Coral World Underwater Observatory in Eilat, with bright blue Red Sea water and reef behind the glass.
Artwork FileEilat, Israel

Coral World Underwater Observatory

SeenFeb 2023

Underwater Observatory Marine Park · Eilat, Israel · 1974 and 1991

Photo: Lizzy Shaanan / PikiWiki Israel / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5), as also published on Street Art Utopia.

In Eilat, two adjoining towers stand in the Red Sea reef so that visitors can meet the corals up close without getting wet: the first was erected in 1974 and the second, larger one in 1991. Source Checked

Seen Feb 2023: the newest dated photograph we found shows a visitor at the windows on 25 February 2023 (camera date; the photo above). Source Checked

More photos

The Underwater Observatory in Eilat in April 2008: a tall white tower with a round, windowed base stands in the Red Sea at the end of a long pier, with signs and a railing in front and bare mountains behind.
2008 The tower from the pier, April 2008Photo: Abraham / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

💡 4 things to know

  1. A dry way into the reefThe park says its founders, the Kahn family, had dived in Eilat many times and imagined an underwater observatory where people could see the coral reef up close without getting wet; it calls the result the first land-based underwater tourist attraction. Source Reported
  2. Two towers, seventeen years apartThe first tower was erected in 1974; the second, larger tower joined it in 1991. Source Checked
  3. No netsThere are no nets around the towers: the fish and other animals come to the reef of their own accord. Source Checked
  4. Founded in 1975The park dates its founding to 1975, a year after the first tower was erected. Source Checked

📍 Where it is

In the Red Sea off the shore of Eilat, Israel; Wikimedia Commons gives the park’s coordinates as 29°30′14.4″ N, 34°55′04.8″ E. Source Source Source Checked

Open in Maps

Opens Google Maps at the coordinates Wikimedia Commons gives for the park; we did not check Street View.

🗓️ Sightings

  1. 1974

    First tower erected · Coral World

  2. 1975

    Park established · Coral World

  3. 1991

    Second, larger tower · Coral World

  4. 200818 Apr

    The tower from the pier · Wikimedia Commons

  5. 202325 Feb

    Visitors at the windows · Wikimedia Commons

Green stamps mark dated photographs; amber stamps mark dated records and reports. Publication dates are not camera dates.

🗞️ In the sources

Coral World EilatOur story

“Initially they constructed the unique Underwater Observatory Tower, which today consists of two adjoining towers, the first erected in 1974 and the second larger one, in 1991.”

Read the source →

Coral World EilatOur story

“With no nets around the towers to keep the fish and marine creatures close by, all our marine life come and live by the reef voluntarily”

Read the source →

✅ The facts

Park
Underwater Observatory Marine Park (Coral World), Eilat Source Source Checked
Founders
The Kahn family Source Reported
First tower
1974 Source Checked
Second tower
1991, larger than the first Source Checked
Park founded
1975 Source Checked
Enclosure
None: no nets around the towers Source Checked
Coordinates
29.504, 34.918 Source Checked
Status today
Seen February 2023 Source Checked

🔗 Related

All sources & image credits

Last checked: 4 November 2026. How we verify art