Divers banned from warship wrecks

Naval wrecks are to be treated as war graves

Divers are to be banned from visiting the wrecks of warships which sank with the loss of life.

The MoD is introducing a licence system to protect the wrecks, some of which came from Plymouth's Devonport naval base, and sank in South West waters.

The naval wrecks will be treated as war graves.

Diving without a licence will be banned on more than half a dozen which sank during World War II and subsequent conflicts.

Protected places

They include the Devonport ship HMS Ardent, which sank during the Falklands conflict, and the A7 submarine which sank off Whitsand Bay in east Cornwall.

In addition, six other vessels have been designated as protected places where divers will be allowed to look but not touch.

The MoD says this is just a start and more wrecks will be included in the programme over time.

Diving experts in Devon have welcomed the move.

Fort Bovisand, Plymouth's biggest diving school, says it is the right thing to do.

To date, some 264 HM ships sunk within UK coastal waters have been charted. Another 58 are uncharted.

Adequate deterrent

Previously, the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 had not been applied to wrecked military vessels.

The MoD thought the existence of the act was an adequate deterrent to both commercial salvage organisations and recreational divers.

But the increased popularity of diving, along with technical advances in navigational equipment, has meant it is possible for divers to visit wrecks more frequently.

Under the current act, anyone who commits an offence by tampering with a war grave can be fined up to £5,000 in a magistrates court.