Page 54 - TVH 2000 Anniversary Shipwreck Project

Diving Procedures Paul Dart Equipment All diving was carried out from the dive support vessel Terschelling using the air spread fitted to the vessel. This comprised: • Low pressure compressor supplying three air diving panels • A large high-pressure air bank which was fed from a high-pressure compressor • Reduced high pressure from the bank supplying the air diving panels • A high-pressure cylinder filling station on deck fed from the high-pressure compressor • A twin lock 54” recompression chamber fed from both low pressure and high-pressure compressors • Large back-up high pressure cylinders on deck for the panels • 3 air diving umbilicals • 3 Kirby Morgan Band mask helmets and one Kirby Morgan ‘Superlite’ helmet • Umbilical camera and light for the helmet fed to a video recorder, video capture card and monitor • Diver’s cage and clump-weight operated from deck winch • Closed-circuit TV for deck observation from Dive Control • Deck communications via a transceiver • Two six-inch and two four-inch airlifts • Two road compressors feeding the airlifts In addition to the diving spread there was support from the remote operated vehicles (ROVs) the Slingsby Seacat and the Hydrovision Hyball (Photo 7). Methodology Archaeological operations were carried out under the direct control of Alex Hildred as the Archaeological Director. All diving was controlled by Dive Supervisors appointed by Stephen Roue, Operations Manager for Falmouth Divers Ltd. All operations were carried out under the proposed and agreed Diving Plan submitted by Falmouth Divers Ltd. The work was divided into three main operations with all of the operations being carried out simultaneously: • Survey • Excavation • Recording and passive holding of artefacts Terschelling was secured on a four-point mooring that made for very safe and relatively easy diving. All diving equipment was inspected and checked against a list daily. The diving supervisor drew up a dive plan that fitted with individual abilities and skills and this was discussed with Captain Nigel Boston acting as Dive Project Coordinator. The plan had to fit in with the local tidal current and weather conditions. Assistance given by Mark Fuller was a major factor in the understanding of local conditions. Most of the dives undertaken included excavation using the six-inch airlifts connected to the sieve. Problems with the airlifts were usually rectified by recovering the airlift and making changes on deck. - 48 -