Missing Holland V Torpedo Hatch

This story was reported on the BBC South East News this evening (1st September) and is featured on the BBC web site.

Click HERE to view the web page.

I'm told (as I didn't see the broadcast) that the BBC used the photo from the Meridian Divers blog, I'll waive the BBC fee for their use of my photo in the interests of supporting our maritime heritage, and to help demonstrate that many divers have respect for wrecks & their history.

Holland 5 Diving Opportunity

At the meeting last week I mentioned that Jamie from TWSAC was applying for a licence to dive the Holland 5 submarine next year. TWSAC has offered any Meridian Divers the opportunity to be named on the licence to dive this protected wreck as guests of TWSAC on their ribs.

If you are interested please add a comment including your dive qualifications, experience and if you have any maritime archeological experience such as N.A.S dont worry if you dont have this it wont prevent you diving the wreck.

The object of the dives will be to gather photo, video and marine life data plus general visual inspection which can be added to the data already gathered.

Tad

NAS Link to Holland V Project , Click HERE

English Heritage Maritime Archeology Unit

I am in the process of arranging a visit next Month from Alison Hamer from English Heritage Maritime Archeology Unit. Alison has kindly agreed to come and give a talk on the protected wrecksites off the Sussex Coast and how we can support and be involved in some of the planned project work in the future on these sites. Alison recently featured in Diver Magazine (June issue p 98)

This could be a great opportunity for divers who have an interest in preserving some of our maritime history.

The talk will be open to all interested divers and date and time will be posted here once confirmed.

Tad

NAS Intro Course ~ Saturday 28th March

This was put on Ocean views forum by Paul Grinyer who has sorted this one out;

Following the excellent talk give by Tad on the TR Thompson I have been in touch with The NAS to get them to run a course at the club for us. Initially we're proposing to do the Intro Course on the 28th March 2009.

We need a minimum of 10 to run the course and if there are enough people interested then we can run a second course on the Sunday 29th March 2009.

Here are the general details for the course:
An introduction to foreshore and underwater archaeology . This is the entry-level course to the NAS Training Programme and is aimed at introducing nautical archaeology to divers and non-divers, and promoting their interest in the subject. It provides a broad-based view of the subject by covering a wide range of topics.

The objectives of the course are that participants should:
1. Have been introduced to the basic principles and scope of nautical archaeology.

2. Appreciate the importance of our nautical heritage and the need for the recording, protection and preservation of the underwater heritage.

3.Have been given the necessary knowledge to undertake a basic pre-disturbance site survey The emphasis during the practical sessions is on surveying and recording.

In addition, the theory component stresses the need for the conservation and preservation of the underwater cultural heritage. The format involves a one-day course, which is conducted by approved tutors and instructors. Certain parts of the course can be adapted to suit the special requirements of the individual groups taking part.

The minimum diving qualification level for those taking part in the pool exercises is CMAS 1-Star or equivalent, e.g. BSAC Ocean Diver, SAA Open Water Diver, or PADI Open Water. The 'Introductory' course is not examined and participants are provided with a certificate of attendance only.

The course cost will be £60 per person. We need to get an idea of numbers as soon as possible so if you're interested please call Graeme at the shop 01903 767224.

This really should be an excellent and interesting course, particularly to those who are interested in wreck diving and the history of our local wreck sites.

Big Anchors !

Since I have been diving I have certainly come across some big anchors! Some in the water, some not! Some have left a lasting memory on me whilst others fade amongst all the lesser anchors it has been my lot to observe!

You might be forgiven for thinking that it's not worth dwelling too long upon the anchors we chance to encounter but you might be wrong! The NAS is soon to launch the :-

BIG ANCHOR PROJECT

and everyone is invited to photograph & record anchors to populate a lottery funded database. Of course being something of an anorak I will send a few photos in to their website which you can check out by clicking HERE!

May be Meridian Divers should have it's own competion for Christmas that can tie-in with this project? Perhaps a prize for identifying the biggest anchor on any of the boats we've dived from?

~ <> ~

And as this post has caught you're collective imaginations, I'll add a silly challenge. The Big Anchor below was photographed at a major port in Europe! Readers can add a comments with guesses as to country and then when that is established comments to identify the City / Port can be added. The winner is the first comment to identify the City/Port! The prize will be a drink at the next appropriate MD Meeting!

NAS Honours the Meridian Divers "T R Thompson" Project

Meridian Divers, Tad, Sheila & Chris were delighted to be invited to the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) 2008 Annual Conference held on Saturday 8th November at "ACTION STATIONS" in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard, itself the home of HMS Victory.

The Conference, supported by PADI, BSAC, SAA, English Heritage, Historic Scotland and others, had a packed Agenda with some of the leading UK and overseas archaeologists. With such an eminent and erudite line-up of speakers one might reasonably wonder why Meridian Divers were invited.


Well the answer is simple, the NAS wished to honour Meridian Diver's for their Adopt A Wreck Project (see linked blog , link top right of this page). On behalf of the NAS, Mr Ray Sutcliffe FSA read out a glowing citation on the work of Meridian Divers and the extent to which the project had traced living relatives of the Steamship T R Thompson, sunk in 1918. The citation included a special reference to the succesful use of the broadcast media which had promoted maritime heritage.


Tad , on behalf of Meridian Divers was called to the dias and presented with a Certificate and a engraved glass wine decanter. The Certificate , for 'Runners-Up' in the 2008 Adopt a Wreck Awards was all the more meaningful to Meridian Divers as it surpassed the Certificates of Merit awarded to several other impressive projects. After the presentation several members of the NAS came forward to add their personal endorsement of the Project. It was a very proud day in the history of Meridian Divers and provides some independent and authoritative support for our work. It was particularly pleasing to know that PADI Internal was a member of the Judging Panel for this year's award. The PADI web site has previously carried reports of the projects progress.
. The engraved decanter

. The base of the engraved decanter Meridian Divers would like to thank all those who have contributed to the T R Thompson Project.

Northern Cyprus ~ Maritime Heritage

Many divers will appreciate that Cyprus is currently governed by two different states with their respective territories separated by a United Nations 'Buffer Zone'. A presentation made to the Nautical Archaeology Society at their 2008 Annual Conference by Assistant Professor Matthew Harpster emphasised how this situation created a highly peculiar legal situation in respect of Maritime Heritage & archaeology. To try to resolve this situation Prof Harpster had designed a training course for Cypriots. The political situation dictated that the course be presented in the UN "Buffer Zone" as this encouraged citizens of both parts of Cyprus to participate. The course was developed using advice provided by the Nauitical Archaeology Society. Prof Harpster showed a photograph of the students on his course, many were UK ex-patriots but there were divers from both the Greek and Turkish sides of the island.

The island of Cyprus has many maritime heritage sites and it's very encouraging to see that training is being provided to local divers. So it was good to see Ghengis, an Instructor who trained locally in East Sussex and who now operates a diving centre in Northern Cyprus standing amongst the Group! Well done Ghengis for taking part. (Ghengis is in centre of the front row, dressed all in blue denim).

West Sussex Archive Society Talk ~ Saturday 11th October

Meridian Divers have been asked to give a talk on The T.R.Thompson project at its annual conference this Saturday.
The conference has a Maritime theme and the day will consist of talks about

Lost ships found a talk by Ian Friel, writer and naval historian, with examples of Sussex wrecks and projects , illustrated by slides.

Diving into History a talk by Ian Barefoot, he will explore the joint initiative with The ‘Heritage Lottery Fund’ and the Nautical Archaeology Society, bringing Maritime heritage to life.
1-2pm Lunch. There are plenty of places to eat near to the office, and in the town.
The afternoon session begins at 2pm with

West Sussex Settlements Lost To The Sea, a talk by John Mills, looking at settlements and ports of West Sussex that have been inundated by the sea.

Adopt a wreck project a talk by Tad Taberer who dives with a group of divers who are passionate about shipwrecks. Tad will talk about why they dive shipwrecks and their joint project with the Nautical Archaelogical Society on the wreck of the SS T.R. Thompson. Includes video clips and photos of diving on the wreck of the Thompson.

The conference will be all day and will cost you £10 and include light refreshments

If you are interested in going as it should be an interesting day let me know asap as they need to know numbers.

The venue is

3 Orchard Street
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 1DD

NAS Conference 2008 ~ Meridian Divers Delegation

As per the post re the conference (below , see NAS link) . It now looks as though a Meridian Divers delegation is intent on taking part.

Those indicating an intention to attend are as follows:-
1. Chris-P
2. Sue
3. Sheila
4. Tad
5. Nikki

The intended visit will be on Saturday 8th November . There is an option to stay overnight . This presents a problem for those originally intending to visit the Recompression Chamber on Sun 9th November and this has now (almost) been resolved by the Chamber places now (almost) being taken by others!

The WWW url on the NAS link (below) provides more detail regarding the conference. If you are interested in attending the NAS Conference add a comment or let me know.

Nautical Archaeology Society ~ Annual Conference 2008

The NAS 2008 Annual Conference, to be held on Friday 7th & Saturday 8th November at "Action Stations" , Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth promises to be an exciting event for all those involved in the NAS Adopt-A-Wreck Project .

Meridian Divers official adoptees of the T R Thompson wreck have a particular interest in the 2008 Conference as , sadly, this is the last year of the AAW project. Meridian Divers have submitted an applicaton to the NAS for an AAW Award which will be judged by a panel including dive agencies (inc PADI) and the NAS.

We hope that you are all rooting for the Meridian Divers application, we think we have done justice to the application. Any NAS recognition would be something of a triumph for a network such as ours.

The Conference will also provide an opportunity to discuss research, review the archaeological activities of members, exchange ideas on managing our maritime heritage and catch up with friends and colleagues from both the UK and abroad.

It's high time Meridian Divers made an appearance at the Annual Conference and may be this year we will pull out all the stops to get there! Add a comment if you are interested in attending .

NAS Conference Link