Wreck diving is a type of recreational diving where shipwrecks are explored. Although most dive sites are at shipwrecks, there is an increasing trend to scuttle retired ships to create artificial reef sites.
Reasons;
A shipwreck is attractive to divers for several reasons:
• it is an artificial reef, which creates a habitat for many types of marine life;
• it often is a large structure with many interesting parts and machinery, which is not normally closely observable on working, floating vessels;
• it often has an exciting or tragic history;
• it presents new skill challenges for scuba divers;
• it is part of the underwater cultural heritage and may be an important archaeological resource;
• it to provides a first-hand insight into context for the loss, such as causal connections, geographical associations, trade patterns and many other areas, providing a microcosm of our maritime heritage and maritime history.
• Non-penetration diving (ie. swimming over the wreck)
• Limited penetration diving, within the "light zone"
• Full penetration diving, beyond the "light zone"
Each succeeding level involves greater risk, and therefore will normally require greater levels of training, experience and equipment. Non-penetration
wreck diving
is barely more hazardous than conventional scuba diving (save that the underlying terrain may present greater risk of sharp edges).
Penetration within the light zone presents greater hazards due to overhead and greater proximity of the wreck's structure, but because of the proximity of visibility of an exit point, those hazards are more manageable. Full penetration diving obviously introduces a number of further risks, including the risk of getting lost and the inability to escape unassisted in the event of a disruption to air supply.