Welcome
I’ m just back from Go Diving Show, which was a lot of fun this year. Lots of socialising around the BSAC stand; plenty of workshops in the breakout room. It was a pleasure to meet old friends and new faces, not to mention the ever popular BSAC Awards. We’ re going to save our full coverage for the May issue and do a proper big spread on the winners alongside a report on the rest of the show. Sorry we couldn’ t pack it into this magazine, but we went to press almost immediately after the event.
By way of compensation I’ ve packed this issue of SCUBA full of treats for your reading pleasure. It’ s about time we turned our gaze again to wreck diving, so our four major features are all devoted to that very subject.
Our features reflect the diving community’ s changing relationship with maritime heritage. I think it’ s fair to say that the days of pillaging wrecks for personal profit are pretty much done, certainly as an overt aspect of our culture. Instead, we have Mark Pearce, licensee of the Coronation wreck, putting forward the case for what he describes as‘ ethical treasure hunting’ [ page 34 ]. Mark is unapologetic about using an underwater metal detector and bringing certain items to the surface, but he follows the law and intends that any artefacts should be carefully preserved and donated to museums.
The UK’ s wreck access laws can be confusing, so I’ m grateful to Karen Moule of Milton Keynes SAC and the Nautical Archaeology Society for her contribution this month. Karen looks at Protected Wrecks and how we can all dive them legally if qualified to do so [ page 39 ].
Then we look at wreck diving from the club perspective, with Eastbourne SAC’ s Chair Tony Warwick highlighting his favourite local wrecks, and how visiting divers can join the Eastbourne RIB by arrangement. It’ s certainly a prime stretch of coastline for rusty goodness [ page 30 ].
To round off our shipwreck spree, I thought it would be fun to look at a purpose-sunk wreck in an unusual-but-affordable destination – Madeira. Step forward photographer Mark O’ Connor, who offers a bite-sized tour of the Corveta Afonso Cerqueira [ page 32 ]. Madeira, eh? And there I was thinking it was all levadas and long lunches. I might have to pay a visit myself.
Simon Rogerson – Editor simon @ scubamagazine. co. uk
Cover photo: Licensee Mark Pearce lights up an anchor on Plymouth’ s Coronation wreck trail, by Simon Rogerson
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