In 1976 the Greek Tourism Organization invited the French explorer J. Cousteau to investigate Greek seas. Under the supervision of pioneer archaeologists of the Ministry of Culture and Education (MCE) and the participation of volunteers from the Hellenic Institute of Marine Archaeology many sites were explored throughout the Cretan coast. However, the main effort was put at the area of Dhia islet, the safe “pre-port” of the island’s eternal capital. Most elements of the cargoes recovered and the finds of the underwater excavation at the gulf of St. George at Dhia, have since been kept in Koules fortress. The cargoes are dated from the 1st c. A.D. to the decline of the Ottoman empire, thus covering a period of more than 18 centuries.

The finds from three of these wrecks are exhibited at the following rooms, along with finds from Ag. Georgios bay, as well as a presentation of Heraklion’s port history. In another part of the castle, there is a small presentation concerning the French flag ship La Thérèse, the sinking of which meant the fall of Crete from Venetians to the Ottomans in 1669.