Cross the surface of the water as we descend into the past. Taking us to another dimension, to a passage in history where time stopped at a certain moment... It is like using the time machine to explore what the sea jealously guards, and which, little by little, becomes part of herself.
wreck diving, remains of different civilizations swallowed under the waters for various reasons, has an incomparable attraction . Shipwrecks, naval and air battles, storms, accidents and, sometimes, the will of man, have littered the seabeds of the entire world with remains.
Knowing the history of a wreck, its characteristics, the crew, its cargo, its destination, how it sank until it finally came to rest in the depths, is to know a little more about the history of man throughout the times. There are no adjectives to illustrate what it feels like to explore certain wrecks. One feels like a stranger when exploring its bowels and observing the mysteries they contain.
Having discovered their tourist attraction for the vast majority of divers, they are part of the routes and dives in almost all diving destinations. This does not mean that they are within the reach of any diver. Each wreck has specific characteristics that we have to evaluate before trying to visit it. We must always plan in advance and thoroughly this type of dives, considered higher risk than those carried out in open waters.
Factors to take into account before diving
a) Historical positioning
All information about it will be little. First of all, it is important to accumulate historical data on the wreck, such as its mission, route, destination, cargo, crew, year of construction, cause of the sinking, etc. Everything that gives us background and places in time what we are going to see. In this way we will better assess the importance of the parts of the wreck to visit, and we will know what to look for inside to contemplate it.
Some remains are prohibited from all access by the laws of the State or country in which they are located, due to the characteristics of their cargo, religious reasons or regulations to protect their archaeological remains. In each country there are specific laws, so it is advisable to inform yourself as some are very severe with any theft or change of location of the remains.
b) Individual characteristics of the wreck
Distance from the coast. Exact position. Depth of the remains. Shallower and deeper zone. Average depth of the dive. Length and sleeve, dimensions. Position of the wreckage (in navigation position, on starboard, port, upside down, degrees of heel...). Parts into which it is divided. General condition of the remains. Accessibility to them. Dangerous or toxic cargo (especially on military wrecks).
By evaluating all this data, we will know what type of mixture will be ideal (air, nitrox...), how much time we will have at the bottom, to be able to calculate the necessary decompression. We will know if we need more than one dive to explore it, which area is the best to start or where we should not enter.
Depending on the positionthey maintain, it will be more or less easy to get lost in the wreckage. Inside a wreck it is very easy to get disoriented. The lack of light, the appearance of narcosis (at more than 35-40 meters), the similarity of their interior spaces, make orientation difficult. Not respecting the speed of ascent or believing that we are ascending when in reality we are descending are common situations when exploring its galleries or interior rooms. Some wrecks are veritable labyrinths.
We will establish the maximum time spent at the bottom, stops and total decompression time. We will plan a route (always from the deepest part to the shallowest) from bow to stern or vice versa, previously determining the places to explore. The dive profile must be "square", or "V", never the so-called "sawtooth", with pronounced ascents and descents. The side on which we will travel the boat (port or starboard) may depend on the side on which we are most protected from the current.
c) Characteristics of the sinking area
The first thing will be to ask for information from nearby diving clubs, guides, divers who know it and fishermen, about the characteristics of the wreck.
Existence of currents. Water temperature. Usual visibility conditions. Type of bottom where it rests (on mud or mud, visibility is usually very poor). Added dangers, such as pieces of fishing nets on the remains, in trawl areas.
Fauna of the area. The wrecks are rapidly colonized places, corals and all those forms that need a solid substrate, fill their surfaces with life and color. Fish also use them as shelter and there are numerous species that live in shelter, including large predators, due to the amount of food they find. We must know the species that inhabit it and be careful, due to the darkness and narrowness, not to have contact with those that could hurt us due to their sting or bite.
d) Material needed for a wreck dive
As we have mentioned, this is not a normal dive and our equipment must be more complete. First of all we need a resistant suit, depending on the water temperature.
From a dry at great depth to a (complete and strong) suit for tropical waters. The state of the remains depends on many factors (time, conditions of the area, cause of the sinking, material the wreck is made of...). But they all have in common the existence of rusty, sharp and pointed metals. Wood is usually the first material to disappear due to its weakness, but you have to be careful with splintered areas. For all this, the use of a suit and gloves that protect us from cuts is essential.
The diving. The jacket can be normal for dives around the wreck or at shallow depths. A technical jacket allows you to obtain a better buoyancy position inside, in addition to having a greater number of rings where you can hold more equipment (bottles, lights, spools of thread...).
The supply of air or nitrox, the choice of the capacity of the tank or tanks, will be determined by the previous planning of the dive. We will need two independent regulators with DIN or INT output and, therefore, bottles with double taps. Depending on how narrow the places we plan to go through are, it is advisable to use a tap protector to prevent a tap from turning off when touching the ceiling of a room or interior passage.
It is very important, under water, to carry the equipment as securely as possible, without hoses or elements that can get caught or cut by the rusty plates. The computer must be able to calculate the decompression according to the type of mixture used.
Safety Tips
- The first time we visit a wreck, we should preferably be accompanied by an experienced guide or diver who knows the wreck well.
- Two very sharp knives, with line cutters and saw teeth. (Not too small to be able to rapidly colonized places, corals and all those forms that need a solid substrate, fill their surfaces with life and color. Fish also use them as shelter and there are numerous species that live in shelter, including large predators, due to the amount of food they find. We must know the species that inhabit it and be careful, due to the darkness and narrowness, not to have contact with those that could hurt us due to their sting or bite.
d) Material needed for a wreck dive
As we have mentioned, this is not a normal dive and our equipment must be more complete. First of all we need a resistant suit, depending on the water temperature.
From a dry at great depth to a (complete and strong) suit for tropical waters. The state of the remains depends on many factors (time, conditions of the area, cause of the sinking, material the wreck is made of...). But they all have in common the existence of rusty, sharp and pointed metals. Wood is usually the first material to disappear due to its weakness, but you have to be careful with splintered areas. For all this, the use of a suit and gloves that protect us from cuts is essential.
The diving. The jacket can be normal for dives around the wreck or at shallow depths. A technical jacket allows you to obtain a better buoyancy position inside, in addition to having a greater number of rings where you can hold more equipment (bottles, lights, spools of thread...).
The supply of air or nitrox, the choice of the capacity of the tank or tanks, will be determined by the previous planning of the dive. We will need two independent regulators with DIN or INT output and, therefore, bottles with double taps. Depending on how narrow the places we plan to go through are, it is advisable to use a tap protector to prevent a tap from turning off when touching the ceiling of a room or interior passage.
It is very important, under water, to carry the equipment as securely as possible, without hoses or elements that can get caught or cut by the rusty plates. The computer must be able to calculate the decompression according to the type of mixture used.
Safety Tips- The first time we visit a wreck, we should preferably be accompanied by an experienced guide or diver who knows the wreck well.
- Two very sharp knives, with line cutters and saw teeth. (Not too small to be able to
