News
Volunteer Divers make huge contribution to Marine Historic Environment
In the 50th year of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 a new survey by the Protected Wreck Association reveals the huge contribution volunteer divers make to the marine historic environment.
- 2023 is the 50th anniversary of the Protected Wreck Act 1973 and represents 50 years of divers acting as voluntary custodians on nationally and internationally significant wreck sites
- A new survey undertaken by the Association reveals in 2022 alone divers volunteered over 1,312 days working on protected wreck sites
- Volunteers contributed nearly £80,000 in 2022 to support the management of protected wreck sites
- The average volunteer is now over the age of 66 and new divers are urgently needed
Fifty years ago this year, a small piece of legislation was enacted that established, for the first time, the opportunity for Government to protect important historic shipwreck sites. There are currently 64 protected wreck sites across the UK designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, which is administered by DCMS and the Heritage Agencies. The Protection of Wreck Act 1973 enables the Secretary of State to designate a restricted area around a wreck to prevent uncontrolled interference. Shipwrecks can be designated under Section 1 of the Act on account of their historical, archaeological or artistic importance. The Act was introduced to address issues with the exploration and investigation of historic shipwrecks in the early 1970s that were damaging marine heritage and causing public outcry.
Licensing by the Heritage Agencies utilises volunteer divers as effective voluntary site custodians providing the eyes on the seabed to monitor, research and protect the wrecks. Some divers have been investigating sites over many decades; some 46% have been involved with the sites for fifteen years or more. The skills needed for investigating and caring for an important historic wreck site are broad and volunteers acquire a high level of responsibility, as they are ultimately responsible to DCMS. The volunteers work tirelessly on the protected sites, mainly funding their investigations themselves, to help bring these wrecks alive for the public on dry land for everybody’s benefit.
They are a unique breed of diver: focused, enthusiastic, committed and dedicated.
The role of the volunteer Licensee has played an essential vital part in the ongoing management of sites designated under the Act. In recent years there have been over 200 Licensees and team members active on England’s Protected Wreck sites, with more working elsewhere in the UK.
The Protected Wreck Association have undertaken a survey of its members to try and find out more about their volunteering. The survey has revealed that in 2022 alone, divers volunteered over 1,312 days to diving on, researching and engaging the public with protected wreck sites.
During their volunteering, they personally contributed nearly £80,000 to the management of protected wreck sites; this includes paying for boat time and fuel, purchase of survey equipment and travel to archives for research. 23% of survey participants are seeing a negative impact on their volunteering due to the cost-of-living crisis, with a further 40% anticipating it will have an impact in the near future.
The survey provides a snapshot of the value of the contribution of volunteers in just one year. It should be highlighted that the survey respondents represent only a small number of those who volunteer their time in such a way and the true figure is likely to be much higher. It can therefore be concluded that the value of 50 years of volunteering is highly significant and has helped underpin management of the UK’s most important maritime heritage throughout that time.
The work of Protected Wreck Association members helps reduce the number of historic wreck sites that are at risk and help heritage agencies, including Historic England and Cadw, in the management of these sites that are protected under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 or scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.
Professor Mike Williams, Chair of the Protected Wreck Association said: “Licensed diving teams are the unsung heroes of the UK’s underwater cultural heritage. Without fanfare, year after year, they go out investigating, recording and safeguarding the public’s maritime heritage. They are the embodiment of the adage ‘Take what you need, give more than you take.”
In England, Historic England recognise the huge contribution made by volunteer licensed divers in helping them to manage nationally significant wreck sites, such as the London that exploded and sank in the Thames estuary in 1665 and the Bronze Age and 17th Century sites in Salcombe, by classing them as affiliated volunteers
Hefin Meara, Marine Archaeologist at Historic England said: “The efforts of the protected wreck licensees are invaluable for the investigation and monitoring of these nationally important shipwreck sites. The results of the survey emphasise the significant contribution made by avocational divers to the care of our underwater cultural heritage. We look forward to continue our collaboration with the Protected Wreck Association, in order to support the vital projects undertaken by the Licensees”.
Scubaverse is proud to announce that renowned underwater photographer Jane Morgan is the first to join our newly launched underwater photography team, alongside team lead Saeed Rashid.
With a career spanning over two decades, Jane brings a wealth of experience, creativity, and passion for the ocean. After learning to dive in 1991, Jane’s early work in marine conservation and scuba instruction in the Philippines and Borneo laid the foundation for what would become a distinguished career in underwater photojournalism.
A chance encounter with a film camera in Egypt in 2001 sparked a lifelong passion for underwater photography. Since then, Jane’s captivating imagery has been featured in top publications around the world, from major magazines and newspapers to books and exhibitions. She has worked with the BBC, judged prestigious competitions, and earned accolades including the Plongeur d’Or at the Festival Mondial de l’Image Sous-Marine.
Now based in Cornwall, Jane dives the UK coast year-round, championing its often-overlooked marine biodiversity. She is also a proud ambassador for DYNAMICNORD and Fathoms Free, lending her voice and lens to ocean conservation efforts.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Scubaverse underwater photography team,” says Jane. “It’s an exciting opportunity to share stories from beneath the surface and connect more people with the incredible beauty—and fragility—of our oceans.”
Scubaverse founder Dave Alexander adds, “Jane is one of my absolute favourite underwater photographers, and having her on board is a huge moment for us. Her talent, passion, and dedication to marine storytelling make her an ideal fit for the team.”
We’re just getting started… come back tomorrow to meet the next member of our underwater photography dream team!
This week only – your donation to the Shark Trust will be doubled – at no extra cost to you!
This week only – your donation to the Shark Trust will be doubled – at no extra cost to you!The Shark Trust are raising vital funds for their Community Engagement Programme: empowering people to learn about sharks and rays, assisting the scientific community take action for elasmobranchs, and bring communities together to become ambassadors for change.
Every £1 you give = £2 for shark conservation. A donation of £10 becomes £20, £50 becomes £100! Help us reach our target of £10,000, if successful, this will be doubled to £20,000 by the Big Give.
Every donation makes DOUBLE the impact!
Monty Halls is backing this week of fundraising “Cousteau called sharks the “splendid savage of the sea”, and even through the more benign lens of modern shark interactions it remains a good description. The reefs I dived thirty years ago teemed with sharks, the perfect result of 450 million years of evolution. Today those same reefs are silent, the blue water empty of those elegant shadows. But hope remains that if one generation has created such devastation, so the next can reverse the damage that has been done. The Shark Trust are at the forefront of that fight.“
To find out more about the work of the Shark Trust visit their website here.
Blogs2 months agoGO Diving Show 2025: The Monster Mark Evans Created (And Why the Industry Loves It)
- Marine Life & Conservation2 months ago
ARC marine Celebrates “Commended” Award at Underwater Photographer of the Year with reef cube image
- News2 months ago
Humpback Mother and Calf Win Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025
- News2 months ago
Go Diving Show 2025 Exhibitor Showcase
- News3 months ago
Book Review: Amazing Diving Stories by John Bantin
- News2 months ago
Filming 360 in The Bahamas
- Gear News2 months ago
Poseidon Diving Systems Announces New UK Distribution Model
- Gear Reviews3 months ago
Gear Review: BARE 3mm OMNIRED Ultrawarm Gloves
