Mystery and curiosity:
Shipwrecks have always fascinated
divers with their mystery. When a diver
approaches a shipwreck there is a feeling
of curiosity. How did it get there? What
was it carrying? What men once lived and
worked here?
History: Increasingly,
the remains of sunken ships tell marine
archaeologists about man's history. A wreck
diver willing to research archives may find
the history of a favourite shipwreck and
add to it by sifting through clues on the
wreck itself.
Aquatic Life: Shipwrecks
quickly become artificial reefs (some ships
are sunk intentionally for that reason).
These wrecks attract new underwater life
& provide new habitat. In many areas,
shipwrecks are among the best places to
observe aquatic life.
Photography: Thanks to
their structures, the life that inhabits
wrecks tends to attract photographers trying
to catch the perfect shot.
Wreck Diving is the most exciting and adventurous kind of diving there is. All around the world there are thousands of shipwrecks all with individual stories of action and adventure waiting to be discovered. In the waters around the UK we have the biggest concentration of wrecks anywhere in the world with ocean-liners, battleships, merchant vessels, aircraft and submarines with many more yet to be discovered. Shipwrecks are surreal time capsules, a graphic representation of a past time you can actually be part of.
Our wreck diver course covers everything you need to know to get started in the most exciting of diving areas. The programme covers the knowledge, skills & techniques required to safely plan and carry out wreck dives to the limit of your training & experience.
The wreck diver course at Sussex Scuba involves one evening classroom session followed by a weekend at Stoney Cove where you will develop your skills exploring The Stanegarth. You may already be aware that the course is made up of 4 dives. What you may not be aware of is that the course also includes an optional 5th dive which we at Sussex Scuba include as standard. Key elements of the course are as follows:
- Wreck dive planning
- Introduction to special wreck diving equipment
- Buoyancy control to avoid silting on wrecks
- Identifying & avoiding wreck hazards
- Mapping and surveying
- Introduction to reels and lines
- Basic line laying techniques
- Wreck navigation
- Air supply / Alternate air options
- Wreck entry & penetration
- Coastal wreck diving techniques
Wreck Diving Hazards
What are five potential hazards common to wrecks, and how do you avoid them?
What are five hazards of entering a wreck, and what causes these hazards?
Wreck Diving Techniques
What are four aspects of a wreck to evaluate when diving on it?
What are three ways to navigate on a wreck?
Why may a compass be inaccurate on many wrecks?
What four dive planning and equipment considerations should be made for wreck dives deeper than 60 feet?
What are the general techniques for diving a wreck in a current?
What are two reasons why a diver should obtain a local orientation to an unfamiliar wreck?
Researching Wrecks
What are three reasons for researching the history and condition of a wreck?
What two sources provide quick, basic information about diving a popular wreck?
What possible sources can you check when researching more in-depth, detailed wreck information?
Mapping Shipwrecks
What are two benefits of mapping a wreck?
What four tools can you use when mapping a wreck, and what is each used for?
Wreck Penetration
What are four pieces of equipment that you should use for wreck penetration and what is each piece used for?
What are the three penetration limits when inside a wreck?
What are the proper techniques for:
- Entering a wreck?
- Moving through a wreck?
- Using a penetration line in a wreck?
What are the proper responses and actions for:
- Loss of visibility due to silting?
- A lost or cut penetration line?
- Light failure?
- Air supply loss?
Do you know the answers to these questions?
If you'd like to, and this sounds like something you'd like to step up to, then the Wreck Diver Course is for you. It's challenging, fun, exciting, and will increase your technical skills and confidence like no other course you've taken so far. |
