A scuba diver from Devon has been honoured as a ‘wreck champion’ for his work investigating sunken British warships.
Retired engineer Mike Rowley, 70, of Dartmouth, has spent 40 years researching historic wartime shipwrecks including the first ever ship sunk by a submarine torpedo in 1914.
He has now been appointed as one of Britain’s first Wreck Champions by the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC).
The accolade is in recognition of his work documenting important British shipwrecks.
The network of wreck champions help raise awareness of the UK’s fascinating underwater heritage.
Earlier this year Mike, with a team of BSAC divers, launched an appeal to trace relatives of the crew of the HMS Amphion, after diving on the wreck of what was the first Royal Navy ship to be sunk at the start of the First World War, with the loss of 132 British lives.
The team also dived on the wreck of the German minelayer Königin Luise, which actually laid the mine that sunk the HMS Amphion, 40 miles off the Essex port of Harwich, on August 6th 1914.
Mike, a BSAC First Class Diver, National Instructor, instructor trainer and a mixed gas rebreather diver, has helped raise awareness of Britain’s underwater heritage by presenting his findings at many conferences.
He was also recently given a rare BSAC Lifetime Achievement award, applauded with a standing ovation at the organisation’s annual conference dinner.
He says he has a passion for diving on and protecting shipwrecks.
He said: “The BSAC ethos is to protect and look after our underwater heritage and that is really important.”
“It’s important to recognise the archaeological significance of our shipwrecks, and I enjoy seeing the reaction and wonder of divers when they see wrecks covered in artefacts.”
“I’m thrilled to have been named a BSAC Wreck Champion, and hope I can play a role in encouraging the next generation of divers to care for and protect our underwater heritage so it’s there for future generations to enjoy.”
There are around 40,000 wrecks lying in UK waters, including around 100 that have special protection and so permission must be sought to dive on them.
BSAC represents more than 30,000 divers and 900 plus family friendly and sociable clubs, run by volunteers, up and down the country and abroad.
BSAC chief executive, Mary Tetley, said: “Being part of BSAC is also all about being respectful of the underwater world and everything it is home to.”
“Mike Rowley has done an amazing amount of work in researching, photographing and videoing wrecks in 40 years of being a BSAC diver.”
“He continues to help record and protect the nation’s amazing underwater heritage “
She added: “Scuba diving is a sport which can offer a whole host of interesting opportunities and underwater adventures.”
Mike also led a 2008 expedition to dive on the wreck of HMS Victoria off the Lebanese coast, which lies in an extreme depth of 145 metres.
He is now planning a project which will see him lead a team of highly qualified BSAC divers in an expedition to the British and German Battle of Jutland wrecks.
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Source: Torquay Herald Express
