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These wrecks provide a unique window into the past, capturing and preserving a single moment in history. This fascination has to be tempered however; once uncovered and exposed to the forces of nature and human contact, this time capsule starts to be destroyed.
As on land, measures are placed to safeguard this living heritage. A number of designated wrecks enjoy special government protection, because of their historical, archaeological or artistic value. Access is restricted to divers who hold a special licence or those who are being supervised by an authorised diver. Recognising the passion of the diving fraternity for wrecks, some sites have special diving trails with underwater display boards to explain the layout.
Wrecks also demand respect, as often lives were lost with the vessel. Some sites are recognised war graves and access is forbidden without express permission from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Protection extends to the contents of wreck sites. Divers are greatly discouraged from removing any items, as it damages the ship, and its archaeological value. Where artefacts are raised to ensure their preservation, they must by law be reported to the Receiver of Wrecks.
The Nautical Archaeological Society runs courses that explain how to get the most out of visiting a wreck site
Mankind has plied the sea for tens of thousands of years, leaving in its path a wealth of information hidden beneath the waves. Maritime archaeology is dedicated to studying and understanding these underwater treasures, as well as related maritime remains on land. In the dynamic environment of the sea, these archaeological sites are often badly damaged. Careful archaeological investigation and high-tech equipment can decipher a bygone way of life from the remains of hulls, fragments of rope and sail and personal possessions.
The techniques used are basically the same as on land: careful recording and surveying of exposed remains, and excavation. Surveying is very important because how and where the remains lie is vital to understanding the site. Using tape measures and grids, a record can be built up without disturbing the wreck; or if a site is then excavated, the survey retains the evidence of what the wreck originally looked like.
Although excavation can reveal a lot of information about a wreck, this has to be weighed against the better protection of leaving it undisturbed on the seabed. Removing the silt that has protected the site for many years exposes it to the destructive forces of the sea and micro-organisms.
Where excavation is the only way to find out essential information, this is carried out using an airlift, which sucks up the silt like a hoover. Any exposed and vulnerable artefacts are lifted to the surface for conservation.
Whole wrecks are raised rarely, usually for the purposes of public exhibition. The most notable are the Tudor warship The Mary Rose in
