Some sterling work on UK wrecks...

[Vic]

I think a serious amount of credit is due for this...

Mike Tickle has been putting together a Wreck Database on the Wiki.

It's a phenominal piece of work, and I think you should all know about it.

Take a look at the Shipwrecks page (http://bsacforum.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Shipwrecks)

And - well done, Mike!

Vic.

[MikeTickle]

I can't take the credit - I just copied the info from another BSAC page and wikified it a bit. I've also been adding stuff to wikipedia. I think the two can compliment each other - wikipedia for the detailed history and the BSAC wiki for diving practicalities (GPS co-ords, nearest air & nirtox, boat launch etc).

I'm waiting to hear back from the admin for the BSAC page I copied it off to validate that it was OK to copy, but fingers crossed.

Take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:UK_SCUBA_diving_sites

[Ben Panter]

Well done Mike, superb effort!

Please let me know if you face any issues with the source.

Ben

[Stephen Hodgkins]

I agree, an excellent effort and usefull if all the information can be gathered in one place. :o

Only a couple of issues that I can see.

1. People need to be aware of the datum used for the GPS positions. I would therefore recommending that all contributors ensure that all positions use WGS 84 and a date when last dived / chart no.

2. The problem of keeping the data current and having multiple verification of positions is always a problem. There are masses of wreck locations available on the net, and from other sources (I have a copy of the BSAC Wreck register for example) but unless verified by a known source then to be honest I dont trust the vast majority.

There is nothing worse than looking up a wreck pos on the net, working out your voyage plan and slacks from your charts. Taking a group of divers to the site only to find a nice sandy bottom with no wreck and very little sea life.

If you can somehow verify the data by logging it only after multiple contributors have confirmed the positions then I for one will be very very appreciative. It would make for a more robust system.

None of this is meant as criticism. I applaud any effort to get good quality information into the public domain. I will be adding a number of additional wrecks to the database over the next couple of weeks.