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Training to be B.A.D
Scubaverse contributor Mark Pearce discovers that the new PADI Basic Archaeology Diver (BAD) Specialty is a hit with the course’s first attendees…
Over the years PADI instructors have developed and written many great courses. These PADI Distinctive Specialties are carefully engineered to further the knowledge and training for divers in specific aspects and areas of diving. Designed to instruct and improve your abilities in any number of different avenues, the list seems almost endless these days.
If you are like me, some will appeal more to you than others. But working toward my PADI MASTER SCUBA DIVING Rating, I am always on the lookout for something interesting. This course ticked many of the boxes for me!
So, when asked if I would like to attend the inaugural class of the new PADI Basic Archaeology Diver (BAD) my first thoughts were a Time Team style event underwater, with a trowel and instructors in brightly coloured stripy woollen jumpers, looking at shards of pottery, and extrapolating the whole history of an artifact from very little information!
Anyway, the course sounded interesting, and in truth, a course in underwater archaeology has been on my overdue list for some while. And when it was suggested, it was one of those courses that you think ‘why hasn’t PADI written this course before?’ as it is a logical and obvious skill that almost any diver would want to learn. No diver would pass up the opportunity to explore and learn about a wreck if they were to discover it for themselves, and to be able to do so using internationally accepted methods, would be by far the best way. Sadly for most of us, discovery of a new wreck is unlikely, but certainly discovery of artifacts from known wrecks is what we can enjoy. Also, by looking closer at the wrecks we dive, it helps to appreciate the rusting metal or timber frames as more than just an obstacle course for intrepid divers: you begin to learn about the people on board, the ship herself, the event that brought them to rest where they did, and a whole host of other clues to follow and keep you busy during winter evenings when diving is just a wishful dream.
The course has been written by MAST, the Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust, a not-for-profit organisation who are ‘dedicated to exploring and studying the many thousands of wrecks that surround the UK waters, and to investigate the maritime past to protect it for the future’. A huge task indeed when you remember there are more wrecks surrounding the UK than any other area of the world!
So the course was held at the Plymouth University’s Diving and Marine Centre by Roger ‘Ginge’ Crook and maritime archaeologist Jessica Berry (both from MAST). It is set over two days, and includes an impressive three dives, all of which are made at the New England Quarry near Plymouth. This allows you to hone the skills you have learnt in a well prepared environment, without the unpredictable conditions that you would have to tackle out at sea. The course is well balanced with not too much theory (not my favourite) and plenty of practical instruction. You learn simple yet effective ways to measure and plot items as you find them, so with clear records you, or anyone else can find their way back to them. You also learn about the laws regarding recovery of objects from the sea which have recently been changed, so you will be able to make sure you don’t fall foul of them either!
Along with the practical side of the course, what came through loud and clear was the way they were enthusing you to look closer at what you see, to ‘dig deeper’ as it were. All of us dive areas regularly, perhaps we have a favourite wreck that we return to often. What we have learnt can be applied to any of them, to build a knowledge base, and perhaps make more of a project than just diving the wreck. We left the course with ideas of how we could apply what we have learnt in our own areas of diving, and a greater appreciation of our underwater heritage.
So where to from here? First, a dive at the Coronation wreck (1685) near Plymouth. The course offers a reduced price opportunity to dive the wreck site with a rare guided tour from one of the licensees. She was a 90-gun second rate British naval vessel. This is a rare and exciting prospect, and for those who want to learn more, there are many good courses in archaeology provided out there by various training agencies. This one is a great starting point to an incredibly interesting aspect of undersea exploration.
To find out more about the Underwater Archaeology courses that MAST offer click here
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Jake Davies boards Ghazala Explorer for an unforgettable Red Sea diving experience…
Overnight, the wind picked up, making the planned morning dive a bit bumpy on the Zodiacs to the drop point on Thomas Reef. There, we would dive along the reef before descending through the canyon and then passing under the arch before ascending the wall with a gentle drift. The site provided great encounters with more pelagic species, including shoals of large barracuda, tuna, and bigeye trevally.
Once back on the boat, it was time to get everything tied down again as we would head back south. This time, with the wind behind us, heading to Ras Mohammed to dive Jackfish Alley for another great gentle drift wall dive before then heading up the coast towards the Gulf of Suez to moor up at the wreck of the Thistlegorm. This being the highlight wreck dive of the trip and for many onboard, including myself, it was the first time diving this iconic wreck. I had heard so much about the wreck from friends, and globally, this is a must on any diver’s list. Fortunately for us, there was only one other boat at the site, which was a rarity. A great briefing was delivered by Ahmed, who provided a detailed background about the wreck’s history along with all the required safety information as the currents and visibility at the site can be variable.
Kitting up, there was a lot of excitement on deck before entering the water and heading down the shoreline. Descending to the wreck, there was a light northerly current which reduced the visibility, making it feel more like the conditions that can be found off the Welsh coast. At 10m from the bottom, the outline of the wreck appeared as we reached the area of the wreck which had been bombed, as our mooring line was attached to part of the propeller shaft. Arriving on deck, instantly everywhere you looked there were many of the supplies which the ship was carrying, including Bren Carrier tanks and projectiles that instantly stood out.
We headed around the exterior, taking a look at the large propeller and guns mounted on deck before entering the wreck on the port side to take a look in the holds. It was incredible to see all the trucks, Norton 16H, and BSA motorcycles still perfectly stacked within, providing a real snapshot in time.
Overall, we had four dives on the Thistlegorm, where for all of the dives we were the only group in the water, and at times, there were just three of us on the whole wreck, which made it even more special, especially knowing that most days the wreck has hundreds of divers. Along with the history of the wreck, there was plenty of marine life on the wreck and around, from big green turtles to batfish, along with shoals of mackerel being hunted by trevally. Some unforgettable dives.
The final leg of the trip saw us cross back over the Suez Canal to the Gobal Islands where we planned to stay the night and do three dives at the Dolphin House for the potential of sharing the dive with dolphins. The site, which included a channel that was teeming with reef fish, especially large numbers of goatfish that swam in large shoals along the edge of the reef. These were nice relaxing dives to end the week. Unfortunately, the dolphins didn’t show up, which was okay as like all marine life they are difficult to predict and you can’t guarantee what’s going to be seen. With the last dive complete, we headed back to port for the final night where it was time to clean all the kit and pack before the departure flight the next day.
The whole week from start to finish on Ghazala Explorer was amazing; the boat had all the facilities you need for a comfortable week aboard. The crew were always there to help throughout the day and the chefs providing top quality food which was required after every dive. The itinerary providing some of the best diving with a nice mixture of wreck and reef dives. I would recommend the trip to anyone, whether it’s your first Red Sea liveaboard in the Red Sea or you’re revisiting. Hopefully, it’s not too long before I head back to explore more of the Red Sea onboard Ghazala Explorer.
To find out more about the Northern Red Sea reef and wrecks itineraries aboard Ghazala Explorer, or to book, contact Scuba Travel now:
Email: dive@scubatravel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 411590
Photos: Jake Davies / Avalon.Red
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