Wreck Details
Seadart Divers have been concentrating their efforts working on a wreck site off the Dorset coast in the UK. The wreck is of the ship Halsewell, a trading ship of the East India Company that was lost to a storm on the 6th January 1786. As "salvor in possession" Seadart Divers have always taken a keen interest in the archaeological side to our finds.
It is thought that part of the cliff face collapsed onto the wreck site shortly after the wrecking of the ship covering the site with thousands of tons of rock and debrise. Today divers work in sometimes cramped confined areas with less than 1 metre of visibility and at times this could be a dangerous situation to be in when moving one boulder not knowing if it was supporting a larger one.
Seadart divers have put in a lot of hard work into the recovery of our coins and artifacts, at times having to move boulders that possibly weighed over 10 tons, these would be moved with the use of hydraulic jacks, smaller boulders would be air lifted away from the work area with the use of lifting bags.
Over the years the Dive Team have come to know the site like the backs of their hands and have developed an indepth understanding of the tragic events of that night the ship was lost.
During the dive season (April through October) Seadart divers can often be seen at the site working away. If you happen to be taking a stroll along the cliff top above the site, don't forget to shout down and give us a wave.