Cyprus has announced it will create five new marine parks from 2013, to encourage the growth and protection of the island's marine life.

Four large fishing vessels and a number of reef poles will be scuttled into the Cypriot Mediterranean throughout the first six months of 2013, opening to divers in July.

Funded by the Cyprus Dive Centre Association, the Department of Fisheries and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation at a cost of 1.5m euro (US$1.97m, £1.22m) the marine parks at Paphos, Limassol, Agia Napa, Protaras and Latchi will see fishing prohibited across an area of 12 sq km (4.63 sq m).

With year-round sunshine and sea temperatures from 16 to 27 degrees Celsius Cyprus has one of the longest diving seasons in the Mediterranean and more than 160,000 international divers visit the island every year.

The absence of plankton makes for excellent visibility and conservation efforts have seen turtle numbers increase around the islands.

Cyprus Dive Centre Association vice-chairman Photos Socratous said its mission was to promote awareness of the importance of underwater eco-systems and the organisation is thrilled about the establishment of the marine parks.