A recent campaign to try and ban all divers from diving war graves in the UK has been initiated by a group of journalists and representatives of survivors associations. A small minority of rogue divers have been pilfering from and disturbing wrecks. Not only are they spoiling wrecks for future divers, breaking the law, upsetting the relatives of those that have lost their lives on the ships, but by bringing live munitions ashore, also endangering life. This has provided the press an opportunity to tarnish all divers with the same brush. Many wrecks are also war graves.
Many wrecks provide habitats on which marine life now thrives.
Treat them with the care you would afford coral reefs Respect the Future Explore wrecks, where allowed, but don't damage or disturb them. Many wrecks have an important history and hold clues to our maritime past. Some wrecks contain dangerous cargoes or live munitions. Don't let the actions of a few rogue divers spoil your opportunities for respectful wreck diving in the future. The vast majority of British divers deplore the activities of the few rogue divers who flout the law, have a disregard for our underwater cultural heritage and are disrespectful of war graves.