Some of the world’s most exciting dive sites feature wrecked boats, ships, and aircraft. Whether these artifacts which appear so commonplace ended up on the bottom due to an accidental loss, or if they were retired and deployed for use as artificial reefs, they are incredible to see and explore underwater. While there are some wrecks which can be safely explored by all divers, most of the best reveal their secrets only to certified wreck divers. Here, we’ll take a closer look at wreck diving.
Recreational or Technical? Wreck Diving Basics
Wreck diving is sometimes recreational and sometimes technical. It all depends on the wreck’s depth, whether or not the dive plan calls for penetration (entering the wreck), and what type of equipment will be used in completing the dive.
The first step in enjoying exciting wreck dives is to take a wreck diver specialty course such as the PADI wreck diver course. These courses teach you everything you’ll need to know to expand your diving abilities in order to explore sunken ships, aircraft, and even automobiles. Not only do these courses offer key safety measures, they also help you learn to identify certain aspects of a wreck which you might otherwise miss.
During a basic wreck diving course, you will receive practical guidance and instruction which will teach you the skills needed for better, more interesting, and safer diving experiences.
- Methods for avoiding hazards commonly associated with exploring shipwrecks
- An introduction to special equipment for wreck diving
- Appropriate methods for penetrating intact wrecks
- Tried and true methods for researching which wreck sites offer the best diving potential
In addition, you will learn to organize, plan, and conduct no fewer than four wreck dives under the watchful eye of your instructor.
Types of Wreck Dives
Much like cave diving, wreck diving can be divided into sub-categories as follows:
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Non-penetration diving – Divers not qualified to enter the wreck remain outside. If penetration is not possible, all divers remain outside. Despite the relative ease this type of wreck diving offers, there are still hazards associated; for example, since wrecks attract fish, there are often nets stuck to their structures, and these nets present an entanglement hazard.
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Limited penetration diving – In limited penetration diving, divers remain in the light zone, with easy access to exit points. Nets, silt, and internal features such a loose wiring pose hazards.
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Full penetration diving – In a full penetration dive, it is possible to delve deep inside wrecks, where some of the most intriguing features are to be found. Hazards include loose wiring, the potential for internal structure collapse, silt-out, and becoming lost. These are just a few of the reasons no one should enter a wreck – even for a short distance – unless he or she is properly trained and equipped with the right equipment.
Special equipment for wreck diving varies depending on the wreck and the conditions which may be encountered. For long, deep dives, drysuits are typically worn, and as with cave diving, many pieces of equipment are redundant – at least two dive lights, two knives, and redundant air supply are a few of the indispensable items required for exploring certain wrecks.
Why is Wreck Diving so Popular?
Nature is fantastic and there are loads of great sightseeing dive sites available, so why are many divers fascinated by the opportunity to explore dangerous wrecks? The answer: we humans have left an unimaginable number of items beneath the water’s surface, and new wrecks and artifacts are being discovered all the time. Most of us have at least a little curiosity about our past, and almost everyone finds history at least slightly intriguing; people who become wreck divers often discover that what might have been a passing interest in past events grows rapidly into a passion and sometimes becomes a life-changing obsession!
Wreck diving offers an unparalleled glimpse into maritime history, providing access to cultural heritage sites that non-divers get to see only from the safety of the living room couch, if at all. And those who stay home are really missing out – besides simply visiting a historic site that might have been present for one hundred years or more, divers get the opportunity to view certain aspects of wreckage up close. For example, interesting bits of machinery, the ship’s architectural details, and quite often, numerous artifacts are available for intense scrutiny. Imagine seeing for yourself a lost cargo of armored vehicles, locomotives, motorcycles, and other items such as those that went down with the SS Thistlegorm, which lies at the bottom of the Northern Red Sea, and you’ll realize why so many of us are completely hooked on wrecks!
Depending on location and depth, wrecks have the potential to host masses of marine life, with man-made structures slowly disappearing under layers of coral, sponges, and other sessile animals as time passes, and with plenty of fish, crustaceans, and other creatures inhabiting various nooks and crannies throughout the structure. Even the newest wreck sites attract plenty of fish – and as smaller animals take up residence, larger predators begin to come in. Of course, there are many wrecks located in areas that are less-densely populated by marine life, and these are often quite ghostly in appearance, with structural details aging, but remaining similar in appearance to the way they did when the ship or aircraft was lost.
Finally, part of the fun of wreck diving is actually learning more about the history of the wrecks you visit. More often than not, you’ll be able to hop online and find a complete history of a certain ship along with details about its sinking, if you like. Many wrecks are part of local lore in certain places, and many are the subject of onshore memorials dedicated to those who lost their lives in tragic accidents.
Once you have experienced the first few wreck dives, it’s safe to say that your interest in wreck diving will continue to grow – and taking related courses, including PADI’s Enriched Air Diver and Dive Deeper courses will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to visit deeper, more mysterious wrecks.