Earlier this year, BSAC shared an initial clarification on the proposed updates to the Protection of Military Remains Act( PMRA) 1986. With the updates currently going through Parliament, BSAC’ s Head of Diving and Training Sophie Heptonstall provides a progress report
SCUBAHUB
Practical guidance on wreck conduct
Earlier this year, BSAC shared an initial clarification on the proposed updates to the Protection of Military Remains Act( PMRA) 1986. With the updates currently going through Parliament, BSAC’ s Head of Diving and Training Sophie Heptonstall provides a progress report
10
IN MARCH, WE PROMISED TWO THINGS: that we would keep listening to members, and that we would keep working with the Navy Command to reassure divers of the legislation’ s intent to protect – not ban – diving on military wrecks.
Since that first update, many of you got in touch through clubs, through instructors, and directly via wreckaccess @ bsac. com. We collated that feedback and have worked with the Royal Navy Heritage team to seek clarification and outline practical guidance to divers. The result is a detailed Questions and Answers document, produced in consultation with BSAC, which is intended to sit alongside the legislation as an Approved Code of Practice( ACoP)— in effect, the practical rulebook that explains how the Act should be applied to real diving. If passed, the legislation will come into force in February 2027.
What the Q & A means for divers.
Several of the areas members raised concerns about have been directly addressed. The key points of reassurance are:
Intent to prosecute. The Q & A is explicit that the changes are not aimed at responsible, respectful divers. A diver who visits a wreck in good faith— without disturbing or removing anything, and who has made reasonable efforts to check the wreck’ s status— is not the target of the legislation. Enforcement is directed at those who salvage from or interfere with protected Military wrecks.
Diving on and in an MOD protected wreck. A Protected Place remains a‘ look but don’ t touch’ site, and diving on it is entirely permitted. The Q & A clarifies what‘ entering the interior’ actually means in practice: swim-throughs( where you can always see the outside) and open cargo holds are fine. It’ s entering fully enclosed compartments, or laying lines to penetrate the vessel, that constitute a contravention. Crucially, it also confirms that accidental contact in the interests of safety – gently touching to regain buoyancy, an inadvertent fin kick, or settling on a wreck to deal with an emergency – is not an offence.
Shot lines. The Royal Navy recognises that shotting a wreck is a well-established and essential safety procedure. There is no intention to prosecute divers or boat skippers who shot a wreck in the interests of safety. Divers are simply asked to take care— avoiding excessive weights, not