Part 1 – Let’s Get Wrecked

Well, it is with utter disbelief that I find myself sitting here writing this article.  It seems like only yesterday that my instructor, Steve Axtell, took me on my wreck elective dive for my Advanced Open Water course. Oh my God, what a day that was. It was on the wreck of the Kyarra off Swanage in Dorset in the UK. I think I may have done a little wee in my wetsuit when I got to 28 metres and saw all that “tin” laid out before me. It was like being six again. Everything was new and exciting. And you know, even though now I am the instructor, not one tiny feeling has changed since that first dive on the Kyarra with Steve all those years ago.

Photo: Danny Barber

Every wreck dive hints at the possibility of uncovering something new. Maybe something from one of the two World Wars, or perhaps something Roman… who knows?

Wreck diving comes with its thrills, but also some inherent dangers. It is perhaps these dangers, along with the excitement of discovering something new that makes wrecks so exciting.

Most divers want to explore, and even for Open Water divers there’s the possibility of finding something new. Wrecks are everywhere! As British divers we are so very lucky – Britain’s nautical history and the wildness of our coastlines means that some of the best wreck diving in the world is right on our own doorstep. With a little training and some simple research we are able to become the “Buzz Aldrin” of the underwater world and see something no one has ever seen before.

Now, before I get too carried away I guess I should tell you who I am, what I do and what I plan to write about in this column over the coming months.

I started life in South Africa. In my mid-twenties I relocated to the UK, where I got the opportunity to try diving. I was hooked instantly. Within months of beginning my diver training I owned my own dive centre in London and it wasn’t long before I became a Course Director. I then discovered technical diving, and I’ve never looked back. I can’t get enough of wreck, cave and rebreather diving, and I’ve worked as an Instructor and Instructor Trainer for PADI, IANTD, and TDI. I recently held the position of Director of Technical Training for SSI, but moved on when I was given the opportunity to co-own and run my own diver training agency. I am now the Director of Diver Training at RAID International.

Photo: Danny Barber

On any given day you will find me teaching people from diverse backgrounds and varying levels of experience how to enjoy the wonders of technical diving. I am permanently underwater, showing divers the skills and techniques that will allow them to safely achieve their goals and objectives. Most of my training courses involve at least one visit to a beautiful wreck and at some point will involve penetrating the very heart of one of these metal monsters. How lucky am I? Only Jeremy Clarkson has a job as good as mine, and that’s only because he gets to blow up caravans!

In the coming months I am going to be discussing many different issues regarding safely diving on and in wrecks. I want to discuss the everyday challenges that a wreck diver faces. Wrecks can be gentle little dives that lie in shallow calm water or they can be deep, inaccessible wrecks with fast moving currents. Wrecks, much like caves, come in many shapes and sizes and need varying degrees on competency to attempt them. Wrecks (unless purpose sunk, where they are cleaned and sanitised, making them safe to dive) have all sorts of debris that can make penetrating the wreck extremely hazardous. Wrecks, unlike caves, have sharp rusting metal and piping, wiring and doors, which present all manner of safety issues.

Photo: Danny Barber

So with that in mind we will look at lining off, finning, buoyancy, lighting, staging, mapping, equipment drag and trim, entanglement issues, hazards specific to wreck and emergency drill associated with wreck diving.

I am also planning to look at different training programmes, including twinset, sidemount and rebreather wreck diving.  We will review individual wrecks and also interview expedition divers and wreck discoverers. I also want to take a look at wreck equipment like spools, reels, lights, wings, fins, suits… even helmets.

So please join me on my journey through the skills, knowledge, history and understanding of the ultimate thrill in diving: Wrecks!!!

Paul is the Director of Training at RAID. To find out more about the courses that RAID offers, visit www.diveraid.com.

Main photo: Jason Brown