Wreck Diving: Advice, Safety Tips And Equipment Needed

Are you looking for your next scuba diving adventure and thinking about starting up wreck diving? Wreck diving is such a fascinating experience, you’ll never know what you may find hidden within a submerged ship. They offer so many adventures and new experiences, you may even find some hidden treasure!

But when it comes to taking on a new diving adventure, there are some things we need to remember when partaking in this adventurous activity. Here I’ll be sharing with you some tips I can offer to ensure that you stay safe and within your limits when wreck diving.

Research Before You Dive

Is there a particular wreck that you want to dive? Do your research about this wreck before you dive it so you know the main focus points, the layout and the possible risks to this wreck. Doing this will make you better prepared for the dive ahead and decrease the possibility of accidents occurring. 

Bring The Right Equipment 

Wherever you’re planning on going diving, in whichever part of the world it may be, we recommend that you use these essential pieces of diving equipment when you’re wreck diving.

• Torch: Wrecks can get dark and murky, this is why we recommend that you take a dive torch on all wreck dives. If you’re in the market for a dive torch, we stock an extensive, high-quality range on our stock which you can find here. 
• Full-length wetsuit or drysuit: If you’re wreck diving in cooler waters. Even if the wreck is in warm waters, we recommend that you use a full length wetsuit for extra protection. It can be very easy to bump into something on the wreck if a surge of water comes rushing in, so having that extra bit of protection on your skin will decrease the risk of injury. If you’re in the market for a long wetsuit, we stock an extensive, high-quality range on our stock which you can find here in 3mm, 5mm and 7mm. 

Only Dive Within Your Limits and Skillset

This goes without saying, but only dive within your skillset and only do things that you’re comfortable with. Be mindful and be aware of your limits and don’t do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. If you start to feel uncomfortable when diving the wreck, signal to your buddy that there’s a problem and end the dive. Becoming anxious while diving and choosing to ignore this can lead to possible panic attacks, which is essentially an underwater emergency, so choose to end the dive rather than carry on. 

Or if you’re feeling uncomfortable or anxious before the dive, sit this one out and try again when you feel more relaxed. If you’re nervous about trying wreck diving, visit your local dive centre and enquire about the wreck diving courses they offer. 

Maintain your buoyancy 

Before you start thinking about wreck diving, think about whether you’ve mastered the art of buoyancy control. If you’re still in the learning process of mastering this skill, wait until you’ve got this skill to a T, then you can try wreck diving. When you’re wreck diving, you may have to fit into smaller spaces that you’re used to when diving, so you need to have good buoyancy control to be able to safely move within the wreck. 

Visibility may also be decreased inside the wreck and you don’t want to be losing your buddy because you’ve kicked up sediments from the bottom, therefore decreasing the visibility further. 

Before you go diving, make sure you have the correct weights and before you go into the wreck, check the air in your BCD, see if it is the right amount for you. 

Make sure to maintain awareness of your surroundings too, so you don’t bump into any fragile or sharp objects that can cause harm to yourself or the wreck.  

Don’t Touch Anything

Do not touch anything when you’re wreck diving. One simple knock, bump or touch into the wrong thing can lead to putting yourself or others at risk. Just remember, don’t touch the wreck so that it can be preserved and enjoyed by other divers for years to come. 

Always Stay Close to Your Buddy

Keep your buddy close to you at all times and keep a close eye of their location. You don’t want to be separated from your buddy, especially when wreck diving, in case you or your buddy needs each other. Constantly maintain awareness of your buddy’s location and communicate the plan before your dive. Instruct them to keep their torch on and stay close throughout the dive so you know where they are.

Final Thoughts 

If you have any questions about wreck diving or any of the products in our range (such as wetsuits and torches), please email us at support@mikesdivestore.com where we have a team of scuba diving professionals here to help you out with all your scuba diving questions. Or if you live locally or in the surrounding areas of London, pop in and come visit us in-store where you can try on a wide range of scuba diving accessories for yourself and get a feel of which styles you like best.