Underwater Science - Indiana University

Congradulations to recent master’s graduate Chris Keil for becoming a PADI Divemaster!

Chris earned his MA in Applied Anthropology and Curatorship from Indiana University, specializing in Ancient Greece. Through his work with IU Underwater Science, he gained extensive field experience in the Dominican Republic and Lake Michigan. His interest in underwater archaeology even took him all the way to Bulgaria for additional training. He also supported local dive trainings and carried out lab‑based conservation and research.

We’re very proud of Chris and thankful for our time with him in the Academic Diving Program and Underwater Science!

Spent a couple days this week in Southern Indiana doing a quick survey on Indiana’s fairly unknown Civil War landscape: Morgan’s Raid.

On the water, we surveyed the Alice Dean Shipwreck in the Ohio River with side scan sonar and magnetometry. The Alice Dean was a side wheel steamer taken over and subsequently burned by confederate general John Hunt Morgan in July 1863 during his river crossing to raid Indiana and Ohio to distract from confederate losses elsewhere in the war.

On land, we investigated and documented stacks of rocks on a hill overlooking the river, which are likely associated with artillery and rifleman positions during the battle engagements.

No archaeologists were harmed by ticks in the making of this project!

Visiting Old Lighthouse Museum

Great day on the water today. Lake Michigan was flat calm while conducting student training and site management of the Muskegon Submerged Land Preserve!

You can lead a horse to water AND you can make it SINK

This past week, IU Academic Diving staff successfully sunk a horse statue in Sunset Lake! Everyone please welcome our newest team member, Rex🐴

But we weren’t just horsing around, we take site enhancement seriously! Adding attractions to our open water training site not only brings whimsy to the chilly depths, but also gives staff members the opportunity to keep their lift bag skills sharp (he weighs over 300 pounds🫢).

Special thanks to and for the generous donation! And as always, thank you to the city of Linton for allowing us to dive at Sunset Park!

📸🌊:

Congratulations to our newest PADI Divemaster, Pamela!🩵🤿

While at IU, she has attended multiple field schools in the Dominican Republic, worked in the Center for Underwater Science lab, and assisted with Academic Diving classes. All while working towards her PhD!

Pamela has been an incredible student, and we are so lucky to have her on our team!

Academic Diving Professional Diver Development students wrapping up day 2 of boating clinic with an emphasis on navigation today

Last artifact sneak-peak in the countdown because we’re only TWO DAYS away from the exhibit grand opening!!!

Today you might keep your spare coins in a piggy bank, but did you know they had something similar in the 16th century? This artifact is called a money box! It was recovered from Punta Espada, a 1550s shipwreck we have been actively researching in the Dominican Republic⚓️

We hope to see you all this Saturday, from 1-4pm at the IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology! Where you can learn about the money box and so much more🌊

(Plus, there will be and available👀)

This week in our artifact countdown- a piece of a pirate ship🏴‍☠️

We are only 10 days from the grand opening of our exhibit “Shipwrecks: Living Museums”, and to celebrate we have another sneak peak…

This piece of teak wood is from the hull of the infamous Quedagh Merchant, captured by privateer Captain William Kidd in 1698. After its capture, Kidd was labeled a pirate and captured. He was sent to London and hanged in 1701.

This ship artifact helped archaeologically prove the identify of the Quedagh Merchant. Come to the IUMAA on April 11 to see it for yourself and learn more!