UWF Maritime Archaeology

Our last topic before finals looks at advanced diving methods. Here UWF Dive Safety Officer Fritz Sharar explains the operation of rebreathers.

CPR, First Aid, and oxygen administration training for the UWF scientific diving class.

UWF’s scientific diving class Is going at full speed! We follow the American Academy of Underwater Sciences regulations, training the next generation of scientific divers.

Supervisors and students heading to work!

Deploying Marine Magnetics’ Argos diver handheld gradiometer to investigate a magnetic anomaly. Wish us luck!

With Florida weather days, time to review and analyze our remote sensing data. We’ve found a new wreck so far, how about two or three more?!

We have been investigating a sonar anomaly as part of UWF’s maritime archaeology fieldschool! It was interpreted as a portion of a lumber schooner that broke off of the main wreck nearby… until we began to dive on the target. It has ballast stones, and a sternpost with an intact gudgeon (part of the hinge- joint for the rudder). Conclusion- this is a new wreck that has not yet been studied!

UWF Maritime Archaeology Fieldschool is full speed ahead! Students rocked sci dive training week, and did a load-out this morning for ops on the Shields Point Wrecks in the Blackwater river. More to come!

Swim tests, scuba checks, and underwater archaeology skills in the UWF pool! Our students rocked- tomorrow we do it all again in Pensacola Bay.

Busy day of scientific dive training for UWF’s Maritime Archaeology Fieldschool! CPR/First Aid, Oxygen Administration, Basic mapping techniques, compass navigation and knots, on land today at our Marine services center, then in the pool tomorrow, and then open water Thursday.