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AMATEURS EMBRACED - WHAT NEXT?
NIGEL EATON, EDITOR
The extent to which the work of sport divers in the field of marine archaeology is now being recognised is remarkable.
Outlining its start-up policy for preserving ancient seabed "monuments", English Heritage - which recently took over responsibility for such sites from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (see Diver News, July) - is unprecedented in its praise.
In a 30-page document, Taking to the Water, it stresses the value of working closely with amateur marine archaeologists. It also wants "to engage with the recreational diving community... to instil an enthusiasm for the maritime historic environment and its conservation". And it adds that experienced divers "can bring a greater level of diving ability to marine fieldwork than some professional archaeologists, and can also offer other advantages, such as skill in surveying and photography".
Taking to the Water points out that the physical environments of marine and terrestrial archaeology might appear to differ radically, but research in the two areas can often be seamless. Some former terrestrial sites are now submerged, and vice versa; some sites extend between land and sea; and even wholly submerged wrecks should be viewed in the context of the shipyards where they were built and the ports and cities they served.
It also reminds us that the range of sites of potential interest is surprisingly broad. Included are lost cargoes, anchors, debris fields, and even dumped rubbish, as well as sunken ships and aircraft.
Elsewhere, it highlights the value of leaving some items under water rather than automatically removing them for preservation; it also generally encourages the idea of public access to submerged sites, other than those most vulnerable to damage.
English Heritage will, it says, seek "partnership with recreational divers and amateur archaeologists, for example by supporting the reconnaissance and survey projects undertaken by the Nautical Archaeology Society". Need any more excuses to get involved?
The NAS's Diving With a Purpose initiative has recently been expanded, and offers guidance including skills training (leading to internationally recognised qualifications); the Adopt a Wreck scheme (whereby dive groups or individuals who dive a site regularly can undertake research or a full site survey); and Dive Slates (which can be used by divers on a casual basis to record site details which will then be entered on an NAS database).
Taking to the Water puts divers firmly in the frame. To be part of it, contact the NAS (which runs projects throughout the UK). Details: www.nasportsmouth.org.uk
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