Wreck Diving

With such a rich maritime history and so many good quality wrecks to dive, wreck diving is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. However, these wrecks did not come about without a price. Many (approximately 11000 wrecks around the UK coast) involved loss of life - often in the service of our country. Out of deference to this, it is our responsibility to dive responsibly and respectfully.

Legal Diving
If you are planning to dive a wreck site, you should:

• Check that it is legal to dive in your intended site.
• Understand the law as it stands regarding diving wreck sites.
• Understand salvage law.  
• Understand the function of the Receiver of Wreck.

The law is there to protect sites that have been designated as worthy of special interest. After all, would you go into a graveyard and start prising up tombstones, or go into a museum and start moving the exhibits?

Wreck sites bring with them their own specific hazards, and it is vital that you are properly trained for the diving you intend to do and that your skills are up-to-date. In addition to avoiding physical injury, skills like good buoyancy control and finning technique will enable you to avoid damaging the environment you are diving in.

Safe Diving
Whether you are reef or wreck diving, all dives must adhere to 'dive tables', which set the correct length of dive depending on the dive depth. Every diver has a depth gauge and timer. When coming up to the surface at the end of a dive, it is vital to guard against decompression sickness, or 'the bends', which can lead to anything from itchy skin to paralysis or even death. Nitrogen that has been breathed in and absorbed into the tissue during the dive is released and if the diver comes to the surface too fast the nitrogen can form bubbles in muscles, blood, heart or the brain.

It is also worth bearing in mind that wrecks can harbour large amounts of rust and silt and hamper visibility or ‘viz’. Think of them as an underwater construction site where you need to be cautious of natural decay, loose sections, sharp edges, and even potential entrapment. A good precaution is to carry a knife or net cutter and always remember to look but don’t touch. Tidal currents and prevailing winds are also an important factor, as they can make sites inaccessible and visibility bad.

At extreme depths, some wrecks are only open to experienced divers. Safety stops are compulsory on deep wreck dives and careful monitoring of air supply and no decompression limit are essential. However, with the right training and precautions, no one can deny the thrill of getting up close and personal with a ship that has lain undisturbed for decades or even centuries. It certainly makes for purposeful diving.

UK Diving
The Nautical Archaeology Society, based in Portsmouth, runs several levels of training around the country for budding archaeologists or 'arkies'. Once the preliminary training has been completed, divers can work on sites of historic importance. Several clubs and schools in Britain have archaeological projects in which people can take part.

Useful diving sites:

The Nautical Archaeological Society
http://www.nasportsmouth.org.uk/

UK Diving (Database of UK wrecks)
http://www.ukdiving.co.uk/

British Sub-Aqua Club
http://www.bsac.com/

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors
http://www.padi.com/