Ministry of Defense Wreck Report

PADI welcomed the recommendations in a recent report from the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense (MoD) as an appropriate compromise solution to ensure diver access to UK wrecks. Although the recommendations place a few military maritime graves off limits to divers, the majorities are still available on a no-touch basis, consistent with Project AWARE Foundation's Respect Our Wrecks public awareness and education campaign.

Following public consultation, Dr. Lewis Moonie, Under Secretary of State for Defense acknowledges in his report, "The diver associations' role, through self regulation and educational initiatives, has brought about considerable change in current thinking within the sport…Permitting the lawful activities of the majority of recreational divers on the maximum number of sites would recognize the contribution made so far by educational initiatives." Dr. Moonie also recognizes that recreational divers can make a positive contribution towards identification and reporting of wrecks.

The report designates 21 wreck sites as either controlled or protected under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. Of the controlled sites, 11 are within United Kingdom waters and five are within United Kingdom jurisdiction, all of which are maritime graves. These include the HMS Bulwark, HMS Dasher, HMS Formidable, HMS Hampshire, HMS Natal, HMS A7 submarine, HMS Vanguard, HMS Affray, HMS Exmouth, HMS Royal Oak, HMS A5 submarine, an undisclosed U-Boat, HMS Sheffield, HMS Coventry, HMS Antelope and the HMS Ardent.

Five of the vessels are located in international waters and were designated as Protected Places. These include the RFA Galahad, HMS Hood, HMS Repulse, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Gloucester.

Controlled Sites are restricted and any activities, including diving, require a license. Protected Places allow diving without a license, but only on a no-touch basis. More vessels are slated for designation in the future as part of a rolling program of identification and assessment. Future designations are heavily dependent on diver action and responsibility.

For more information on the report, go to www.mod.uk and choose responses on the consultation page.