Istanbul: Divers exploring waters around Istanbul's Princes' Islands have recorded several marine species that had become increasingly rare in the Marmara Sea, offering a glimpse of underwater life in a heavily populated region.

According to Anadolu Agency, among the species recently observed were John Dory, spiny dogfish, and smooth-hound sharks, along with octopuses, lobsters, rays, corals, and numerous other forms of marine life.

The Princes' Islands, a group of nine islands in the Marmara Sea just south of Istanbul, are among the region's popular diving areas. Divers have documented a variety of habitats around the islands, from rocky seabeds to deeper waters.