Wreck diving: Beware of entanglement

wreck diving



by B. N. Sullivan

What:  This photo of Jerry ascending from a wreck dive is a reminder that the potential for entanglement is one of the hazards of diving on natural wrecks.  Wrecks that have been intentionally sunk as artificial reefs and diver playgrounds usually are prepared ahead of time to minimize hazards that could lead to diver entanglement or entrapment.   Doorways and portholes are removed or welded open, and cables, lines, and other sources of entanglement are taken off the vessel.  This is not the case with natural wrecks, i.e., vessels that have sunk as a result of an accident, or war.  Proper training in wreck diving will educate the diver about how to recognize and cope with the risks entailed in diving on natural wrecks.

Where:  I took this photo of Jerry at the site of the wreck of the Zenobia, a modern ship that sank in 1980 off the coast of Larnaca, Cyprus.  The Zenobia was a huge vessel, more than 172 meters (560 feet) in length, with a beam of about 23 meters (75 feet).  Click here to see a photo of the Zenobia, just before she sank.

We made a number of dives on the wreck of the Zenobia in the 1990s.  In case you missed our series of articles about those dives (with photos), here they are:

2 comments:

  1. I guess I haven't thought about the particular hazards of wrecks when diving, but it makes sense. I like how some wrecks are natural ruins, and others are deliberately sunk to create reefs - they can end up quite beautiful in both cases.

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  2. I am scared just looking at that photo. I wonder how many fishing nets are lost when they get caught on wrecks like this? Then go on catching and killing fish for an eternity? Oh well at least you guys are back safe from the depths once again.

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Bobbie & Jerry