Archaeology enthusiast and BSAC member Duncan Ross has set himself an ongoing project – to dive the UK ’ s historic sites . Here , he highlights five of his favourites so far
UKDIVING
One of two Daimler-Benz engines at the Messerschmitt Bf110 site off the Dorset coast
The Time Tourist
Archaeology enthusiast and BSAC member Duncan Ross has set himself an ongoing project – to dive the UK ’ s historic sites . Here , he highlights five of his favourites so far
PHOTO : MATT DOGGETT
As a child of the Eighties , I remember watching the remains of the Mary Rose being lifted from the Solent . Most excitingly , our school lessons were postponed on that October morning while we all huddled in the main hall waiting , it seemed , for a complete pirate ship to rise gloriously from the murky waters of the Solent .
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Resurgam submarine
Loch Achilty Crannog
UK
Elvet Bridge
Bouldnor Cliff
Our teachers were transfixed , and on television Prince Charles looked on in wonder , but we kids were a bit nonplussed when a lump of unidentifiable black wood slowly emerged . Although I didn ’ t understand what all the fuss was about , the kindling was lit . I wanted to know more . By the time ghostly images and footage of the wreck of RMS Titanic appeared on one of our four TV channels in 1985 , I was pretty much hooked . The discovery stoked my imagination in a profound way , and that in turn led to a lifelong fascination with submerged history .
Fast forward to 2023 and I ’ ve developed a more refined appreciation of what our underwater heritage represents . Much of my childlike wonder still remains , but a combination of Nautical Archaeology Society ( NAS ) courses , Maritime Archaeology Trust ( MAT ) involvement , self-study and project participation has allowed me to build a basic skill set and mindful approach . Diving with the Nautical Archaeology SAC and Chester SAC – both clubs with a long history of involvement in archaeology diving – has also opened up this exciting world to me . I ’ m not academically trained , but I am one of countless enthusiasts , hobbyists and volunteers that make an
Rooswijk important contribution to the heritage sector .
PHOTO : MIKE PITTS
The tour commences
Among other grand ‘ lockdown ideas ’, including building a home climbing wall , writing a concept album , and brewing my own beer , I set myself the task of visiting a range of submerged historic sites around Great Britain . In the middle of a worldwide pandemic , no diving could take place , of course , so the whole plan , although hugely exciting , was academic . Instead of getting wet , it became a period of intense research , groundwork , emails and phone calls that would hopefully lead to future dives . My idea of what constituted underwater archaeology greatly expanded during this time , as did the list of people I now call friends .
Exposed glass bottles at the wrecksite of the first HMS Invincible ( sank 1758 ). Visited on a Nautical Archaeology Society protected wreck day