Sinking ships for wreck diving sites

Preparation

Choice of site

• The wreck should not create a significant hazard to navigation.
• For maximum accessibility and diver safety, a shallow site in protected waters is preferred.
• * To reduce cost of access, the site should be near to a suitable harbour or launching site, in a region where existing or planned recreational diving infrastructure is available.
• * There may be a conflict of interests between groups which may profit from access to the wreck.
• Sites further offshore make shore dives impracticable or dangerous.
• Deeper water reduces access to less qualified divers, but increases risk for all divers.
• More protected waters reduce risk to all divers and increase the useful lifespan of the wreck as a diving attraction.
• Placement of the wreck will do some ecological damage. An ecological impact assessment should indicate acceptable long term consequences.
• The site will influence the marine organisms that will colonise the wreckage, and the rate at which they will grow. Some may be more desirable at a dive site than others.
• The site will influence the rate of silt deposition in and on the wreckage, which will affect safety and the local ecology.

Sinking

Reception

List of ships sunk for wreck diving