Ghost Diving targets historical wrecks off Lampedusa
July 18, 2023Ghost Diving, Healthy Seas, and SDSS collaborated in June on an eight-day expedition to remove ghost nets and discarded fishing gear from World War Two wrecks between Italy’s Lampedusa Island and Tunisia. Volunteer divers from five countries participated in the third year of partnership between the organizations, with support from Hyundai Motors Europe.
According to Pascal van Erp, Healthy Seas deputy director and Ghost Diving founder, wrecks serve as habitats for marine life but also attract fishing nets. It is estimated that 640,000 tons of fishing gear are lost or abandoned in the seas annually, causing harm to millions of marine animals.
During the expedition, the team focused on an unidentified shipwreck from the Battle of Convoys, which still contained aerial bombs and vehicles. By removing a 700kg net, the divers made the wreck safer for marine life and more accessible to other divers. The net, believed to have originated in Egypt, will be upcycled into new nets.
In addition to net removal, the mission aimed to document various wrecks as cultural monuments. Through the collection of over 12,000 photos and the use of photogrammetric techniques, 3D virtual models will be created to make the wrecks accessible to scientists and the public.
The team, consisting of GUE technical divers from Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, and Lebanon, utilized rebreathers to reduce the number of tanks and increase safety during their deep dives.
Van Erp expressed appreciation for the unique and remote nature of the project and looks forward to continuing their efforts in protecting the environment and preserving the historic wrecks in the Mediterranean.
Photo credit: Pascal van Erp and Derk Remmers
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