Why Is Wreck Diving Dangerous? 6 Hazards to Avoid

Shipwrecks feel magical. Lying silently in the deep, these alluring vessels attract the attention of scuba divers around the world. Sometimes eerie, always intriguing, wrecks allow divers to interact with moments from history. Unfortunately, wreck diving has many risks that might not be apparent to untrained divers. Learning to manage these risks is one of the main reasons that rigorous training is required to dive shipwrecks safely.

The following is a short list of some of the hazards of wreck diving. 

Wrecks Are Considered an Overhead Environment

Penetrating a wreck’s interior can be a hazardous move, especially if a diver has insufficient equipment and training. Penetration dives require specialized training, additional equipment, and detailed planning because a direct ascent to the surface is not possible. Even swimming under a piece of wreckage is potentially dangerous. Some wrecks are so fragile that a diver's touch or fin kick will send a piece of the wreck crashing down!

Wrecks Can Be Highly Disorienting

When diving a wreck, it can be very easy for a diver to lose his sense of direction. A wreck can be a veritable maze, with rotting structures, nets and other paraphernalia creating a confusing labyrinth. This is particularly true when a ship is not sitting upright on the ocean floor. A wreck diver must learn and employ proper navigation techniques in order to maintain awareness of his position and avoid disorientation.

Metal Can Be Dangerous

When diving on wrecks made of metal, sharp edges can snag, cut, and damage diving equipment – and even the diver! A wreck diver’s gear should be as streamlined as possible and configured for the sport. In additional, metal wrecks may render underwater compasses useless. A wreck diver must know how to use the structure of the wreck, navigational tools, and natural phenomena to find his way around. One popular method of navigation is the use of a guideline temporarily placed along the diver's path which follows and removes during his exit.

Entanglement Hazards on Wrecks

The presence of monofilament line, rigging and nets on shipwrecks makes entanglement a considerable risk. If a diver runs out of air before he frees himself, he could have a serious problem. Every wreck diver should carry appropriate cutting tools (usually more than one) in order to cut himself free quickly in the event of an entanglement.

Depth Can Be Deceiving

Losing track of depth on shipwrecks can be surprisingly easy. If the top of the wreck lies in shallow water, a diver may plan a shallow dive and then accidentally go deeper as he explores the wreck. Of course, diving deeper than planned (or beyond one's certification level) can cause a diver to experience narcosis or to accidentally enter decompression, which should only be done with proper training and dive planning.

Loss of Focus

A diver may become so captivated by exploring a shipwreck that he neglects to check his gauges. This can result in the divers descending to dangerous depths, going into decompression or even running out of air. Never let the environment distract you from your base skills.

The Take Home Message About the Dangers of Wreck Diving

Wreck diving has plenty of hazards that open water diving does not and managing these risks is one of the reasons that wreck diving requires specific training. However, with proper training procedures and gear, wreck diving is an exciting and fulfilling sport that can be done with minimal risk.