Protecting Bermuda's wrecks

Bermuda's wrecks are a shared museum under the sea. They are protected by law, and by the divers who visit them.

The Historic Wrecks Act 2001

Under the Historic Wrecks Act 2001, wrecks and artefacts more than 50 years old are part of Bermuda's protected marine heritage. The Act is administered by the Department of Conservation Services, through the Custodian of Historic Wrecks, advised by the Historic Wrecks Authority.

• No one may remove, damage or interfere with a historic wreck or artefact without a licence.
• Wrecks may be classified as open (open to recreational divers) or restricted (closed to recreational diving, usually because they are fragile or of special archaeological importance).
• Anything found on or near a wreck must be left in place and reported.

Wrecks less than 50 years old, such as the ships sunk as artificial reefs, are not "historic" under the Act, but the same good practice applies.

No-fishing zones at dive sites

Many of the most popular wreck and reef dive sites are marked with a buoy, and fishing of any kind (line fishing, spear-fishing and lobster diving) is prohibited all year within a set radius of the buoy, usually 300 to 500 metres and up to 1,000 metres at North Rock. Breaking these rules can lead to a fine or imprisonment. Check the current list, Bermuda's No Fishing Areas (Government of Bermuda), before you go. It gives each protected site's position and no-fishing radius, and the seasonal closures that protect spawning fish.

How to dive a wreck responsibly

• Dive with a licensed Bermuda dive operator and use the public mooring buoys. Never anchor on a wreck or reef.
• Look, don't touch: coral and old iron are easily broken, and many wrecks are fragile.
• Take only photographs. Leave every artefact, however small, exactly where it lies.
• Keep good buoyancy and keep fins off the reef.
• Never enter an overhead environment without the right training.

Who to contact

Department of Conservation Services (Custodian of Historic Wrecks), Bermuda Government: gov.bm/department/conservation-services.