The Details of Wreck Diving

Wreck diving is an exceptionally mystifying experience. Seeing the skeleton of a former ship under water sparks imagination as to what they may have been like above water, who manned them and what they carried or where they went. Many divers attempt to describe the feeling of looking up from the floor of a wreck and fish swimming overhead with the sunlight streaming down.

The most important element of wreck diving is to see how aquatic life accepts and envelops the remains, making for enriching marine studies. Whether from as far back as the Roman Empire, or only 100 years ago, each wreck is different. Cultural origins and function determine the nature of each ship. Due to mans' natural tendency to lay claim to rare things, wrecks are protected by law as they represent important points of reference for humankind and are of great historic and archeological significance.

Being a foreign environment, there are a few hazards to be aware of and easily avoided once you are aware of them:

Over time with rust and degeneration, wrecks tend to spawn sharp edges from the glass, metal or wood. This is where your buoyancy experience and techniques comes in handy.

Fishing tackle, rope, fishing nets often become trapped by currents wrapping themselves in and around portals and doors. Carry a sharp knife and be aware when entering the wreck from the outside in order to ensure that you can handle any situation you may not be able to undo with your hands.

Wrecks team with life and you can be guaranteed that among the inhabitants there will be a member or two that bite or sting. Gloves and exposure suits are recommended. In short, don't touch or go near anything that you don't recognize.

Wrecks become unstable with age as supports weaken. Watch out for swimming below anything you may end up trapped under.

High currents can be dangerous and it is advisable to ensure that conditions are favorable instead of risking the discomfort of being swept into in tight spaces and restricted areas.

Adventuring deeper

In order to do deeper wreck dives further training is required and the area you are diving will denote the kind of equipment necessary. This may require placing an extra tank at 5 meters in case of the need for an emergency decompression or safety stop as an example.

Nitrogen Narcosis needs to be taken into consideration as it can cause seriously impaired judgement and lack of coordination in an environment where these natural reflexes are required.

Short time limits due to higher air consumption need to be taken into consideration. If you have enriched air diving experience diving wrecks are particularly advantageous to enjoy the extra time you would have spent on required stops.

Orienting yourself to the wreck will lend to a greater enjoyment of the experience and diving with one who is familiar with the hazards and points of interest of the particular site is advantageous.

Shipwrecks that appear to be well preserved can be misleading and it is important to hone techniques for wreck penetration while taking into consideration the following hazards.

A wreck can become labyrinthine and it can be very easy to loose sense of direction while navigating the interior, especially if it sunk landing on its side. This is especially linked to the fact that there is no direct access to the surface and in the event of an air supply problem and you must exit the wreck before ascending as all other options are exhausted due to the circumstances.

While you are inside take into serious consideration whether the narrower passages are wide and safe enough to turn around in and navigate without sustaining abrasions and the like.

Be careful to preserve your visibility by being aware of not disturbing the silt that gathers in wrecks otherwise you may not be able to see a way out as well as bumping into anything can knock loose anything that may end up falling on you.

Your course training will assist in the finer intricacies of assessment and navigation in order to gain the most out of the experience by using your awareness of the pitfalls and other important aspects of wreck diving.