Scuba divers have launched the Isle of Wight’s first underwater dive trail around a 125-year-old wreck, in a move that is hoped will help boost the region’s charter boat industry, as they back a UK-wide ‘Save Our Skippers’ campaign.
Isle of Wight Dolphins have joined forces with charter boat skipper Dave Wendes to launch the historic Thorness Bay shipwreck underwater dive trail. It means divers from around the globe can now explore a marked route around the wreck, which is submerged in 21 metres of water at Thorness Bay.
The dive trail is unique in the area as it allows visitors to dive the protected wreck around a route following a chart which describes the historic features on the wreck, which is rare because it is so well preserved. The Isle of Wight Dolphins are the licensees for the Thorness Bay wreck and have been working for years to solve the mystery of how the vessel, believed to be Dutch, sank off the Isle of Wight 125 years ago in 1893.
The project would not have been possible were it not for the support and expertise of local Isle of Wight charter boat skipper Dave Wendes and his Wight Spirit Diving Charters company, who people can book tours of the wreck through. Also instrumental in the project were Mark James from marine and coastal contractors MSDS Marine, and archaeologist Dan Pascoe from Pascoe Archaeology.
Garry McGinty, Wreck Officer and BSAC instructor for the Isle of Wight Dolphins has said:
“We couldn’t have done this without the charter boat.
“This wreck is interesting because it gets covered up and revealed depending on the tides, so one day you will be able to see the windlass and the anchor pump, another day you can’t because they are covered up with sand.
“The only people who can find it are people like Dave who have the local knowledge and who know the tides and the underwater geography.
Article continues below this advertisement “He helped us do everything from map and film the wreck that will guide divers around, plus making the best cup of tea available on the Solent”
The divers are backing a Save Our Skippers (SOS) campaign launched by the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), which is the UK governing body for scuba and snorkel, to support the UK charter boat industry.
BSAC launched the Save Our Skippers (SoS) campaign to support the UK charter boat industry by encouraging UK divers to use their services – or eventually risk losing many of the boats for good.
Mary Tetley, Chief Executive of BSAC has said:
“Several charter boat operators have raised concerns with us that the industry is struggling due to low booking numbers.
“We launched the SoS Save Our Skippers campaign to raise awareness of this plight, and encourage more divers to use charter boat services.
“The skills and expertise of skippers and crew are crucial when it comes to many mission-focused expeditions run by some of our more experienced divers. It also keeps costs down as you don’t have to maintain the boat year round.
“Charter boats are also a great way to organise a fun club day trip, helping you to keep the focus on safe and sociable diving rather than running the boat!
“We are keen to do all we can to minimise the risk of losing this vital resource from UK waters, so we are encouraging BSAC divers to support the charter boat industry by using them whenever appropriate.
“We are also pledging to celebrate collaborations between charter boat companies and BSAC divers, by sharing some of these stories, and in the process also highlighting the best and most exciting diving the UK has to offer.”
Aged 67 and diving since the 1960s, Dave Wendes previously served with the police for 30 years and rose to the rank of Divisional Commander. He now runs Wight Spirit Diving Charters based at Lymington.
Dave said:
“If you lose charter boat skippers you lose so much local knowledge. We understand the importance of the likes of changing tides and shifting sands. We also know when we direct divers to the site of a wreck it will be the right one.
“There’s such a huge a variety of sites to explore off the UK coastline, dating back as far as the late stone age. When I say a wreck is there, it’s there.
“People who say diving in UK is a waste of time because it’s so dark and murky must only dive in February.
“There’s so much to see it’s absolutely staggering. There’s also a diverse range of wildlife.
“When I pack it in my knowledge retires with me. And believe me I know these waters really well, probably better than anyone.”
The Isle of Wight Dolphins BSAC club has been operating for 43 years and now has 60 active diving members. There is a core of 16 involved in the Thorness Bay dives.
