But a closer look reveals the whole story and drama of the sinking  -  the gaping hole through which water poured in, displaced cargo, structures which gave way, the merchandise it was carrying, personal belongings of the crew, the propeller which stopped turning, the rudder blocked in the last direction set by the skipper, the anchors in their housings or grasping the seabed, the dramatically empty lifeboat davits, the loading tackle still hanging loose. The emotions felt by a diver are made even more intense by the huge dimensions of the vessel which - especially if the water is murky - convey a sense of intimidation and almost always make it impossible to get a complete view of the whole wreck. In addition sunken ships are a complete view of the whole wreck. in addition sunken ships are sometimes located far from the coast and at a considerable depth, which means special diving techniques are needed.

These dives therefore have little in common with traditional dives to reefs : they are to be considered a specialty area of scuba diving with all the techniques which old divers had to learn the "DO-IT-YOURSELF" way. Let's examine the problems related to this type of diving, highlighting possible dangers and all the necessary precautions. We start by looking at the equipment. Since these dives are more demanding than usual, all apparatus must be thoroughly overhauled, well tested and in efficient working order. The demand value must be in perfect condition, and recently serviced, and pressure tubes which show signs of weakness or wear must be replaced.

It is essential to have a spare second stage or - for instance in the tropics, where single-attachment valves are used - an octopus rig. Also check straps on mask and fins, lead belt buckle and buoyancy compressor (BC) feed-exhaust valves. If planning to explore the inside of the wreck, a good torch is a must and it should be an extremely dependable model. if you hope to venture into the depths of the hold, take a spare torch too, just in case the first one accidentally goes out or springs a leak. A pair of gloves serves to protect hands from rusty metal. A knife is another essential piece of equipment, to cut quickly through any nets, lines or halyards you might find yourself caught up in. When entering the deepest part of certain "difficult" wrecks, it is important to have a reel of thread (several tens of meters long) to leave behind you and mark the way out. Dives to wrecks must always be planned ahead.