Any thoughts on wreck looting?

[lowviz]

...//... I was just wondering what other people think about it? ...

Your question is pure Zen.

We are all immortal (for a while).
History spans all time (for a somewhat longer while).
When the sun runs out of hydrogen, it will expand to include the earth and everything we know or knew will return to mindless plasma. This will happen. Absolutely everything in the past will be totally erased and there will be no more bastard looters.

Enjoy your history while you can...

 

[Pkishino]

Well, Reading many replies here makes me wish you will never come dive our local wrecks here Many ww1/ww2 wrecks, still many artifacts but they STAY there! If we see you take anything except photos/videos you can forget getting back on the boat. We strictly enforce this and we check other boats stopping at our marina. We will and have called the police and banned vessels from the marina sadly because of this. Martin reason we don't report new findings (as is required in Sweden) is that once reported, all the info is made public. And the Danish sure seem to love to plunder our wrecks

 

[lowviz]

Possibly read more carefully?

Any and all military wrecks are off limits. So are many other special cases including tourist attractions and protected areas (US Great Lakes). The problem that I face is that simple-minded people who want a one-sentence solution to everything in life find it convenient to ban everything that they find disagreeable.

Allow me my shipping hazard, dynamited and dragged junk piles. I find great adventure there in the little things. I have no interest in your wrecks whatsoever.

A couple of years ago, I found the base of a brass cage lamp that bore evidence of dynamiting (bellowed outward and cracked) and the last name (manufacturer) of a dear neighbor of mine. They now have the mingy little artifact. It is a treasure to them and they are researching possible family ties.

 

[Hanna2]

Very interesting to read all the different opinions.

 

[Pkishino]

Not only talking about military.. We have many many civilian wrecks from all eras, current estimates in 4 digits along the coast. It's a very heavy shipping lane has been for hundreds of years. Doesn't really matter what wreck you are on, if it's older than 100 it's illegal, if less and we catch you, you will be shamed, and not many ops here will take you out again. If its your boat that sank, go ahead, otherwise fingers off it's not yours to take

Possibly read more carefully?

Any and all military wrecks are off limits. So are many other special cases including tourist attractions and protected areas (US Great Lakes). The problem that I face is that simple-minded people who want a one-sentence solution to everything in life find it convenient to ban everything that they find disagreeable.

Allow me my shipping hazard, dynamited and dragged junk piles. I find great adventure there in the little things. I have no interest in your wrecks whatsoever.

A couple of years ago, I found the base of a brass cage lamp that bore evidence of dynamiting (bellowed outward and cracked) and the last name (manufacturer) of a dear neighbor of mine. They now have the mingy little artifact. It is a treasure to them and they are researching possible family ties.

 

[Jared0425]

If its your boat that sank, go ahead, otherwise fingers off it's not yours to take

Unless if it's in international waters (beyond 12 miles).

 

[lowviz]

...//... Doesn't really matter what wreck you are on, if it's older than 100 it's illegal, if less and we catch you, you will be shamed ...

Interesting culture. Shaming to get around legality. You must be proud of that.

So who does your historical research on your endless wrecks or do you just profit by being a gatekeeper?

No worries, I have no interest in your wrecks. I am, however, very interested in local history. Sweden plays heavily in our past. Kalmar Nyckel - Wikipedia

I have volunteered on that ship and found it incredibly fascinating...

 

[Pkishino]

Well, considering it has led to a lot of discussion and plans to update and strengthen laws to protect wrecks and punish looters, then yes, I'm happy to have done whatever small part.
Historical research is done, properly, by experts, at times with support from us and other times provided with details by us.
But even when we have done first descents, found amazing artifacts and hoping they will still be there on the next dive, we only record, gather information and do our own research which goes to the historians, we never take pieces.we have even asked marine archaeologists if they would like a plate or some such to help date or research a vessel and been told we shouldn't,. If necessary they will get permits and clearance and do an official dive with us to check.

Interesting culture. Shaming to get around legality. You must be proud of that.

So who does your historical research on your endless wrecks or do you just profit by being a gatekeeper?

No worries, I have no interest in your wrecks. I am, however, very interested in local history. Sweden plays heavily in our past. Kalmar Nyckel - Wikipedia

I have volunteered on that ship and found it incredibly fascinating...

 

[lermontov]

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sunken-treasure-law-colin-riegels

this is worth a read

 

[Pkishino]

Any pieces that are lifted are made public to display nor ending up in people's homes..