Wreck Diving approval?

[Taigin]

I am not a wreck diver (yet), got a good bit of training until that point. But a question concerning wrecks occured to me and this forum seemed a good place to post it. *grin*

I live in Hawaii and RIMPAC '08 is drawing to a close. Part of the exercise was the sinking of the USS Fletcher and another vessel. No idea at what depth they sunk the vessels or where. (Gonna try and find out soon. Got friends of friends....)

Anyways, does someone have to sign off on a wreck being divable? Esp if it is a US/Candian military vessel? Or can you just go and dive the location?

[Taigin]

Ok.....just found out the USS Fletcher is at 2670 fathoms. Just a little bit far to dive.

For those of you who haven't a clue what a fathom is, here are some conversions because it is midnight and I am at work.

Convert Fathoms Units Calculator* - Engineers Edge

()=numbers in quotations indicate decimal repeat IE: .33333...

2670 Fathoms
48059.(9) Hands
24.(27) Furlongs
5.288866138589811e-13 light years
970.(90) Rods
21359.(9) Spans

or simply

16019.(9) feet

*grin*

[RikRaeder]

That is a BIT deep, but doesn't invalidate your original question. I know that miitary wrecks remain the property of the country that lost or scuttled them in perpetuity (who's going to argue, they have more guns), but what's the skinny on being divable or not.

[navyhmc]

Originally Posted by RikRaeder

That is a BIT deep, but doesn't invalidate your original question. I know that miitary wrecks remain the property of the country that lost or scuttled them in perpetuity (who's going to argue, they have more guns), but what's the skinny on being divable or not.

Yes...and no. It depends on the how's and why's of the sinking. In the case of vessels such as the Oriskany, the ship was signed over to the State of Florida as are several others that have been sunk as artificial reefs. Also ships that were captured or surrendered in wartime fall under the posession of the capturing nation and are now military vessels of the nation until disposed of. So in those cases, the ships are no longer military in designation.


You are correct that those ships that were scuttled or sunk in war time are indeed the property of the country of origin. I don't know for sure, but it was said that the German government sent annual letters of concern about those who dove the U-boats off US waters.

From what I have gleaned, and I too am not a wreck diver, is that a lot of vessles that have been sunk as reefs are indeed inspected by divers before they are certified so to speak for rec diving and more so for charter. In a lot of cases, several dive charter companies are given license to dive said ships.

[ReefHound]

Ships that are sunk as artificial reefs are accompanied by a lot of ballyhoo that makes it clear that divers are the target, not just welcome.

Other than that, one of the things a wreck course tells you is to check local, state, and international laws regarding any site you intend to explore. Some sites are designated as historical or grave sites. Many entities do not want you disturbing grave sites. Some wrecks you may dive, some you may dive but not touch or remove anything, and some you may not dive.

[digitalman]

It's always best to ask a local guide ordive shop before diving a wreck. They probably know the rules surrounding the particular wreck.

[MSilvia]

Originally Posted by digitalman

It's always best to ask a local guide ordive shop before diving a wreck. They probably know the rules surrounding the particular wreck.

Not always... sometimes it's best to do the research yourself and be the first to dive it! Unless of course you're really looking for a scuttled artifical reef or tourist attraction to dive on. Personally, I find less joy in being the 5000th person to "explore" something.

[shawnwill36]

what are some of the things you learn in a wreck diving course? and do you have to be certified to wreck dive?

[fire diver]

Originally Posted by shawnwill36

what are some of the things you learn in a wreck diving course? and do you have to be certified to wreck dive?

Well, the base-line PADI wreck course only teaches you how to swim around the outside and "survey" a shipwreck. Many of the better instructors will actually teach you how to run lines and make limited, daylight zone penetrations. Then there is the advanced wreck course offered by some agencies that teach full penentration skills, on par with cave skills (although many feel it;s best to take full cave first, then learn to apply those skills to wrecks)

No, you don't even need to be certified to dive. It's just the whole legal aspect and not wanting dead bodies on the boat that forces operators to make sure you are trained to make the dives you want to make.

One side note, it is my understanding that simply holding C-cards won't get you onto many of the better wreck charters. You have to be vetted by a known, experienced diver before you can play with the big dogs.

[bsktcase93]

i took my padi wreck diver class over the summer, it was a good course especially using the wreck reels making mult. turns in the wrecks surveying the wreck before penetraion is def. a neccesary thing when diving wrecks