7 minute read
GETTING STARTED IN SCIENTIFIC DIVING
EXPLORING THE HIDDEN SECRETS OF THE DEEP
Text by DR PJ PRINSLOO - IMAGES BY JOHN WOOD
After 25 years as a diving professional, nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to see on that dive. Five years later, it is still a vision etched into my mind.
There is something special about being the first person to see something that has been hidden for thousands of years. On that first dive of the project, I wasn’t the first person to see the evidence of the wreck, but I was amongst a very small group of people that had. After a week of excavating at 110m, I had my opportunity to uncover a piece of history that hadn’t been seen by another person for 2,700 years.
As long as I’ve been a technical diver, I have had the opportunity to do some incredible dives that have been more about my own personal exploration or achievements. Since starting underwater archaeology projects in 2019 and working with true professionals of science, the dives have become more meaningful. They have a purpose, an expected outcome or sometimes an unexcepted outcome. As you’re digging, you’re uncovering a story, almost a mystery because you don’t have all the ‘chapters’ of the book, history slowly revealing itself.
If you come across a clock in a shipwreck, the frozen time reflects the exact moment it went down and possibly the exact moment a soul, or many, were lost. It could be the time that the ship hit a mine or was torpedoed by a submarine. Suddenly that isn’t just an artefact, it’s a memory, a point in history.
The Phoenician shipwreck project in Malta was an extraordinary undertaking with a team of divers, archeologists and support crew from around the world. Lying at a depth of around 110 metres, the wreck is one of the oldest known in the central Mediterranean and offers a rare glimpse into ancient maritime trade during the 7th century.
The project, led by Professor Timmy Gambin of the University of Malta, in collaboration with supporting partners, uses advanced diving techniques and technology to document and recover artefacts, including amphorae, grinding stones, and ceramics. These finds provide valuable insight into Phoenician trade routes, cargo, and ship construction. Due to its depth, the site poses logistical challenges, making it a significant case study for both technical diving and underwater heritage preservation. It was, and probably still is, the deepest archaeological excavation that has been done by a team of technical divers.
Having a small part to play in this project and getting to witness the wreck site, from my first dive seeing the amphorae nestled in the sand, to seeing a piece of the wooden ship that carried them emerge after we uncovered it, and bringing artefacts to the surface to be studied will be a lasting memory.
After my first dive on the Phoenician wreck, I called my wife back home and said, “I know what I want to do when I grow up”. Although I still haven’t grown up, I’ve had incredible opportunities over the last 5 years contributing to projects in several countries, in fields like marine biology, conservation and archaeology. Not all of them have been deep. Recently I was in a team doing a survey as shallow as 10-20m. We were using rebreathers and diver propulsion vehicles, but it was within recreational limits. Best of all, no one had dived in that area before, so we did not know what to expect.
It sounds like a dream job, right? The diving is only a part of a project. You have to get used early mornings and late nights.
A typical day starts with loading gear into vehicles and boats, and pre-dive checks. After 3 – 4 hours in the water it’s a couple of hours offloading and transporting gear back to base, followed by cleaning and doing any repairs. Sometimes you have some time for a short rest before heading to briefings for the next day. By 10 PM, you have set up for the next day and hopefully had a bit of dinner.
You have to sacrifice weeks away from your family, which is the hardest part. When you’re doing any kind of working dives, safety is of utmost importance and always a priority over any dive objective. Being able to provide that assurance to your family at home provides some peace of mind.
It’s not all divers and scientists; depending on the project, you can have as many as 20 people with various roles and functions. Recording the work that is being done requires pinpoint accuracy and cataloguing. Photographers and videographers are used extensively before, during and after the dive, taking thousands of images. These images can be used to create 3d models, using a technique called photogrammetry.
Photogrammetry is a technique that uses multiple overlapping photographs taken from different angles to create precise 3D models or maps of objects, structures, or environments. In underwater archaeology and diving, it’s used to digitally reconstruct shipwrecks or reef systems by stitching together images taken by divers or ROVs. This non-invasive method helps preserve fragile sites while allowing researchers to study and share detailed visual records without disturbing the original location.
No matter how big or small, a successful project needs a team of surface support and boat crew, and it helps to have someone with good technical knowledge that can assist with equipment problems. Any delays can be detrimental to a project’s outcome.
Probably the most important aspect is the safety team and support divers that assist with pre-dive checks and help relieve divers of unnecessary or redundant equipment. All managed by the dive safety officer, who can decide whether or not a dive goes ahead or if a task being asked is even possible.
Everyone has their part to play. Being able to get involved in these types of projects requires a diver dedicated to their sport and personal development. You don’t need to be a technical diver but if you are interested in getting involved then chart an educational pathway. Perhaps your interest is in photography or marine conservation, explore training that is available to make yourself someone who would be an asset to have onboard.
Diving skills should be second nature so that you can focus on the job at hand, participate in training that will enhance your skills. The Finnish Scientific Diving Academy in Helsinki offers a programme for scientific diving.
Safety is always the most important consideration, and there are multiple options out there to get you educated. Divers Alert Network has a host of useful programmes, including a Dive Safety Officer course presented by some of the leading experts in the field.
Curiosity is the heartbeat of exploration. For divers, it drives the desire to descend into blue holes, penetrate forgotten wrecks, or document newly discovered reefs. This spirit has led to significant scientific breakthroughs, cultural discoveries, and awareness of marine conservation needs. Divers have a unique opportunity to be involved in discovery and exploration.
