TRAVEL
Europe: A Wreck Diver’s Paradise – With a Few Rules by Peter Symes, Publisher, X-Ray Magazine
W HEN I VISIT THE UNITED STATES, I often hear fellow divers speak about Truk Lagoon with near-reverence – as if it were the world’s only great battlefield of wrecks. While Truk is certainly spectacular, it represents only a small part of the story. Europe alone holds thousands of historic wrecks spanning more than two millennia of maritime history, from ancient trading vessels to the remains of the two world wars. In other words, Europe is one of the world’s great repositories of underwater history. And it is not just about shipwrecks. Europe also offers a remarkable range of underwater archaeo- logical sites – submerged settlements, ancient harbour structures and even the remains of Roman villas – making the continent an extraordinary destination for maritime-minded divers. To many American divers, this may come as a surprise. Consider just a few examples. In northern Europe, divers can explore WWI wrecks from the Battle of Jutland in the North Sea and the scuttled German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow in Scotland. Farther north are the dramatic WWII wrecks around Narvik in Norway, while the Dardanelles hold the re- mains of the Gallipoli campaign. The Baltic Sea offers another dimension. The Bay of Finland alone contains numerous wrecks from both world wars, as well as old wooden wrecks, many well preserved thanks to the cold, low-salinity waters that slow the decay of wood and metal. In the Mediterranean, divers can encounter shipwrecks dating back to antiquity. Around Greece, amphoras and ancient cargoes still rest on the seabed, offering glimpses of classical trade routes. Europe’s long maritime history also includes countless merchant ships, fishing vessels and steamships lost to storms, collisions and navigational mishaps. Nor is it only about ships. In parts of Italy, divers can swim
across submerged Roman villas with intricate mosaic floors, while around the North Sea and Danish coasts, Stone Age settlements lie preserved, having been submerged when rising sea levels flooded prehistoric landscapes thousands of years ago. In short, Europe is something of a paradise for wreck divers. Yet diving these sites comes with responsibilities. Across most European countries, objects older than about 100 years are generally considered cultural heritage. The basic principle is simple: artefacts must not be touched or removed without permission from the relevant authorities. Warships lost in conflict are often war graves, which must be approached with particular respect, and penetration or disturbance is usually prohibited. Authorities take these pro- tections seriously. In the United Kingdom, for example, in- creasing attention is being paid to what is termed “heritage crime” – the illegal disturbance or removal of artefacts from historic wreck sites – and measures are being considered to strengthen the protection of wartime wrecks. Despite these restrictions, most wrecks and archaeological sites across Europe can still be dived. The key is simply to check local regulations beforehand, as rules vary between countries and sometimes between individual sites. In some cases, divers may even apply for official permits to recover certain artefacts – perhaps a piece of porcelain from the galley, a ship’s bell, or a nameplate – provided the authorities approve the request. It may involve a little paperwork, but it is far preferable to risking serious legal trouble.
Treat these sites with respect, and Europe offers wreck divers something quite extraordinary: an underwater museum spanning thousands of years of maritime history.
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