Course Content

In our comprehensive course is aimed at teaching all the skills needed to achieve the training required to carry out diving archaeology.

It will comprise a combination of classroom and practical lessons on the wreck site itself.

Courses can be anything from one or two weeks up to three months, and will run from June to September.

What makes Wreck Hunters different is the ability to be able customise a course for you, depending upon your availability/commitments and experience level.

So, if you have attended other courses but have ‘gaps’ in your learning, we can help. Equally, if you are a complete beginner and have the time and resources, the team can take you through the complete experience.

Below is the ‘proposed’ full course content.

In 2022, we offered a one month opportunity for a small team of experiened divers to carry out the “pre-disturbance survey” of the site.
(Use the link opposite to view further details of this)

Costs:
Based on experience with the 2022 course, along with the GBP/USD exchange rate at that time, costs for the course would be approx.
£400 (GBP) per week – self catering basis

Obviously, this price is very much subject to change, therefore should be treated as purely indicative at this time.

Divers will be required to bring their own equipment, except for tanks and weights.

Season 2022

Click Here For More Information

Diving Standards

Click Here For More Information

Search Methods

Tow / scooter – using traditional and modern methods to search large areas for wrecks
Jackstay / corridor search – using a simple technique with a small number of divers to locate objects
Swimline search – using a large number of divers to cover a significant area
Grid search – a more structured method to search smaller areas thoroughly
Circuar search – a simple but effective method of searching requiring only 2 divers
Metal detector use – use of a underwater metal detector to locate objects
Electronic search methods (echo sounder etc) – using a range of modern mehods to locate wrecks remotely

Survey – Traditional Methods

Grid construction – laying a basic grid to assist in an initial survey of a site
Baseline positioning – how to position a baseline to effectively survey a site
Planning frames – use of – the use of planning frames to record visible parts of a wreck
Triangulation – surveying by the use of angles
Offsets – taking distance measurements at right angles to a datum line
Contour plan – measuring the contours of a site
Probe survey – use of probes to determine the possible format of a wreck site
Outline planning – basic planning and “sketching”
Photomosaics – creating a photomontage of a site
Video recording – the use of video to record a site before excavation

Survey - Electronic

Gis methods – electronic mapping of a site
Other – alternative mehods to gis

Recording Techniques

An introduction to the various recording techniques used in a pre-disturbance survey

Excavation / Associated Skills

Grid construction – construction and use of underwater grids around a site
Airlifts construction and use – how to construct and use an “underwater vaccum cleaner”
Use of other excavation tools – use of other tools found on underwater sites
Lifting / recovery of atrefact techniques – various methods of safely recovering finds from sites
Recording techniques – including items in situ – instruction in a range of recording methods
Photomosaics – training in the production of a photomontage of a site
Site photography – the effective recording of an underwater site by photography
Drawing techniques – practice in recording a site by non-photographic means

Safety

Wet bell use – use of an underwater “telephone booth”
Underwater communications – use of traditional methods (rope signal) to through the water communications
Boat skills / dive boat management – use of small boats (zodiac) and the supervision of a diving project
Compressor operations – the use and maintenance of portable compresors
Decompression tables and use – instruction and use of relevant decompression tables