People have always been fascinated by shipwrecks. Whether it’s about the adventure, discovering something thought to be lost, or treasure hunting, people have sought to discover, explore, and if possible salvage shipwrecks. And with the invention and advancement of scuba equipment exploring underwater wrecks was made possible. Today, there is a wreck for every ability level, from Open Water to Tech Diver.
There are three types of wreck diving.
- Non-penetration wreck diving, where divers swim around and over the sunk plane or ship.
There may be portholes or holes that allow divers to peer inside the vessel, but they do not enter. Divers do not need any kind of special training for non-penetration wreck diving, as long as they are trained and certified to dive up to the wreck’s depth. It is considered the safest of all types of wreck diving, but scuba divers should still be aware of entanglement dangers and sharp edges, that could injure them.
- Limited penetration wreck diving, where divers may enter the vessel so long as an exit point is still visible and a minimum of natural light exists. Of course, the wreck’s depth must be within the diver’s training limits.
With limited penetration wreck diving, a wreck diving specialty training is still not required, but it is advised. Since in this type of wreck diving you enter the wreck, the dangers increase. The biggest danger is loss of vision. The once clear waters inside the wreck will be stirred up as divers enter and move around and mud and other particles will reduce visibility significantly blocking the exit from view and causing disorientation.
Other risks in limited penetration wreck diving include sharp objects, banging your head or your tank valve, puncturing your BC, and even becoming entrapped.
- Full penetration wreck diving. This is the most advanced type of wreck diving. A Wreck Diver Specialty Course is necessary at this level, so that divers may learn and practice the necessary skills to enter a wreck safely beyond the light zone.
For a full penetration wreck dive, you will normally need to carry more than your conventional scuba diving equipment. Items like reels, lights, knives, or other cutting tools are necessary additions to your standard diving kit, for this type of diving. Of course, a full penetration wreck dive must be well planned beforehand and divers should make sure they have the right kind of equipment for anything they may come across during their dive.
Not all wrecks are the same. When you plan a full penetration wreck dive, you should make sure that the wreck is within your and your team’s experience level. Even if you are certified for tech wreck diving, it does not mean you are ready to dive a ship like the HMHS Britannic. It takes a lot of practice and preparation to be able to dive with full penetration such a wreck safely.
Rules for wreck diving
When you are wreck diving and exploring an old submerged vessel, perhaps you might want to take something with you on the surface, as a memento, or because you believe it may be valuable.
It is not wise to take anything from a wreck regardless of its value. There are probably laws against it in every country around the world. Also, wrecks older than 100 years old are protected by the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. The diving center organizing the wreck dive should be able to inform you of the laws regarding the collection or removal of any transferable objects in, on, or around the wreck.
Underwater museums around the world
A number of countries have created underwater museums around the world, either by opening to divers underwater archaeological sites or by submerging works of art or even military equipment after they become environmentally safe. Prime examples of underwater archaeological sites are the Alonissos Underwater Museum in Greece, where the cargo (3000 amphorae) of a 5th Century BC shipwreck still mark the long-gone wooden structure of the ship, and the Archaeological Park of Baia in Italy, the Roman time spa retreat that sank into the sea due to bradyseism.
While existing maritime archaeological sites offer a glimpse of the past, submerged artifacts when done with purpose and care for the environment help create artificial reefs in places where no underwater life existed before. The Museo Subacuático de Arte in Mexico showcases 500 sculptures made of coral-friendly materials that encourage reef growth, and provide a shelter for marine life while being one of the largest underwater art displays in the world.
Apart from organized underwater museums, plane and shipwrecks exist worldwide. The Northern Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea have been popular trade routes for centuries and locations of many wars in the last few centuries and they now house a large number of plane and shipwrecks, both military and commercial.
Wreck diving allows divers to dive back in history, uncovering a past engulfed by the oceans. To many, it is this history that proves so alluring. For others, it is their role as vibrant artificial reefs.
Why do you like wreck diving?
