Posted by Paul Hancock on February 05, 1999 at 23:04:22:
In Reply to: Illegal to search for shipwrecks posted by KJL on January 29, 1999 at 13:20:01:
The real issue is what remains after a shipwreck is discovered. The case, 9 out of 10 times, seems to point to mismanagement of dive sites and artifacts. I know from Michigan State that development of an action plan has been far from realistic of handling this. I point out that the Three Brothers wreck was stripped clean of most artifacts right in front of the National Park Service (she was nearly under the NPS dock!). It is just a matter of fact that divers will strip any shipwreck that is discovered. Those who wish to protect these wrecks usually do not announce their discovery or keep the location secret. My family has help keep one shipwreck from being devoured off our property by keeping it a secret and checking on it regularly. Now, for the government to do this would be unthinkable since there are just too many shipwrecks out there.
A side note, the Estonia in the Baltic Sea is to be burried under a cement coffin to prevent any diving on her. Three governments decided that was the best solution to this problem. Another government solution to this problem was to buy ships and sink them to keep the number up for divers since so many where being stripped so badly.
The best thing anyone really can do is to get a photographic record of any discovery so at least something is left for the next generation.