class - wreck survey - suggestions?

[rhwestfall]

Any recommendations of what might be helpful to have with me for a non-penetration dive to map an "unknown" wreck.

No, I haven't discovered something new, just participating in an exercise.

Thanks.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

First items I'd want are a slate or wetnotes (1st choice for sketching and notes), compass to determine layout, and a knotted reel for accurate measuring. Depending on conditions I'd want a good light as well.

 

[TSandM]

What Jim said -- although, instead of the knotted reel, you could use one of the underwater measuring tapes. It would be more accurate.

There's a group whose name I don't recall, composed of marine archaeologists, and they teach a class on wreck survey.

 

[Diver0001]

I use a slate with a graph/grid on it and a wreck reel. In my experience a compass is useless on the majority of wrecks because of the (generally) large iron content. If you really need to see the orientation of the wreck on a compass then you're better off sending up a marker buoy from the bow and stern and determining the compass direction on the surface.

When measuring the size of the wreck I just lay the line across it and tie a knot in the line at the measured distance and then measure the distance using a normal tape measure after the dive.

Mapping on grid paper/slate is just a matter of having an object (again i use the line) of known size so you can map the object on the grids. What might work really well for a "measuring stick" (although i'll admit that I've never gone to the trouble) would be to use a metre long section of pvp pipe and a grid/slate with enough squares on it such that each square can be scaled to 1 metre. If you wanted to make a really detailed sketch of the wreck then something like that might be necessary.

other attributes that I find indispensable when mapping/exploring a truly unknown wreck is a video camera (I have one that mounts on my head) a still camera and some lift bags etc. Regardless of the ethical discussions, if you're exploring an unknown wreck it's often essential to recover some artifacts to inspect/research after the dive in order to improve your chances for a positive id.

R..

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I'm with Jim- knotted reel in 5 foot intervals rather than a tape. The reel is much more manageable and plenty accurate for the exercise you are doing.
DivemasterDennis

 

[DevonDiver]

1) Plans/diagrams/info on the wreck concerned.
2) Pre-existing sketch/dive maps of the wreck concerned.
3) Slate/Wetnotes
4) Compass
5) Pre-marked or knotted guideline of sufficient length for the wreck survey intended

Getting more detailed:

6) Zip-ties and plastic markers (to designate search patterns)
7) Reel/s of line to mark out search pattern/box