Chunks of the old Tappan Zee Bridge have also found a new home as part of half a dozen artificial reefs off Long Island.

“What you’re trying to mimic when you’re creating an artificial reef is the natural habitat,” Ms. Zipf said. “I think the emphasis should be on habitat and the protection of the marine life, rather than the repurposing of the material as a museum. ”

The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority said that all hazardous materials were removed from the military objects before they were lowered to the seafloor and that environmental best practices were followed, according to The Jordan Times, an English-language newspaper.

Eight of the 19 objects are 49 to 65 feet beneath the surface of the water, while 11 of them are under 65 to 92 feet of water, the newspaper said.

James Bohnsack, a supervisory research fishery biologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said that under the right conditions, an artificial reef could form and could start attracting fish very quickly.

“It’s a place to feed, for shelter and for just hanging out during the day,” he said.

The durability of the materials used to create artificial reefs is a crucial consideration, according to Dr. Bohnsack.