Page 404 - Green - Maritime Archaeology: A Technical Handbook. 2nd ed

Chapter 14: Cultural Resource Management 383
1. Maritime Wreck Trails
Providing basic information to the diver will help to ensure that the indi- viduals who dive on sites are informed of the correct position, the risks that the site presents, what is on the site, and where things are located together with what they may and may not do. This gives at least one opportunity to influence divers in a positive way. Hopefully, they can be made aware of the program in the museum and be encouraged to report anything unusual that they may see on the site. If divers have a positive experience when visiting a wreck, they are more likely to become more interested in preserving sites.
An example of a simple and effective way to inform and encourage divers in site-sensitive behavior is to produce waterproof information sheets that the divers can use to locate and orient themselves while diving on the site. These sheets should provide general information on each site, guidelines on appropriate behavior, and sources for further information. This could be coordinated by the museum-based center and, again, should involve the locals as part of the program.
In Western Australia and elsewhere, many sites have been marked with plinths or site markers (Figure 14.3). These markers serve several purposes: they establish that the site is known, they provide information about the site, they provide a focal point for coordinating diving on the site, and they inform the diver about what may or may not be done on the site. Such aids are very useful as they establish an implied presence on the site as well as providing information for the diver. Plinths are simple and easy to con- struct. The information sheets that are mounted on the plinth are usually of bulletproof glass, with the information etched on the inside of the glass sheet.
Another issue to be considered is the damage that can be caused when boats anchor on a site. The program could include the option of providing proper anchoring points for vessels visiting the site. The buoy could have information about the site and any restrictions that apply to it. If this system was to be implemented, the author recommends a screw anchor as the best anchoring system, as it provides great holding power in both the horizon- tal and vertical direction. This avoids having a long chain dragging on the site, because the buoy chain is almost vertical.
In some places the diver pays to access the site and is provided with a permit. This simplifies site management, because anybody found on a site is clearly breaching the rules. Legislation would need to be enacted to support this process. If the permit system is paid by the user, then this has the advantage of generating revenue. It is debatable, however, whether a user-pays and revenue generation system is better than treating the situa- tion on a trust basis. Divers in Western Australia have free access, but they