Welcome everyone to my world of discovery, exploration and adventure. When my diving career and life at sea started over thirty years ago I could not have imagined where it would take me. I have owned and operated dive charter vessels at home and abroad, discovered lost shipwrecks and helped push the frontiers of diving to the very limits. The sole reason I started diving was for the adventure and I soon realised the adventure didn’t have to stop back on dry land as I became more and more fascinated by our rich maritime history. I started The Shipwreck Project nine years ago and primarily it was aimed at divers, however times have changed. UK diving is in serious decline and while we still love to go diving and actively encourage divers to partake Deeper Dorset marks a new beginning with more opportunities to get involved for all and a sharper focus on Dorset waters and Dorset folk.
Combined with my sea going activities a background in mechanical engineering stood me in good stead as I became involved in boat design and building alongside a rapidly growing interest in the development and operation of subsea systems. Working closely with a local sonar and electronics company I found myself in a unique position to build on my varied experiences and soon became a dedicated researcher and shipwreck hunter with a real can do outlook.
Never daunted by those that say “it’s all been found” or the fact that some of my objectives might be rather bold I am a big believer in “if it was easy it would all have been done”. Conversely when I am successful the word luck is often uttered, no such thing as luck, luck is preparation waiting for an opportunity brought about by dedicated research and hard work. As you may have picked up by now I just get on with it purely because there is still lots to discover and many stories to tell.
Off the Dorset coast a huge slice of our maritime history lies undiscovered and uncared for and is slowly being destroyed by fishing and dredging operations. I use the words maritime history rather than maritime heritage as heritage always sounds to me as if we have a right to it when in fact we don’t. If it is left to rot and disappear that is exactly what it will do and if we don’t put in the effort to if not save it then record it, we have no right to it at all.
