Over the last seven years we have been gathering sidescan data out to a distance of a mile off Chesil beach. It has been interesting to see how the beach constantly changes and pieces of wreckage come and go all the time. That said we now have enough pointers in the form of cannons anchors etc to be able to pinpoint some specific wreck sites. This has come about from our own discoveries and that of local historian and diver Selwyn Williams, Selwyn and I will be working together on this project over the next few years. Knowing where these sites are such as the Piedmont from Christian’s fleet wrecked in 1795 will enable us to watch them as the beach moves back and forth, some years hardly anything will show, other times there will be much to see and investigate. When parts of wooden ships become dislodged and uncovered sadly they don’t last long and after the winter storms many pieces such as in the photograph are exposed and soon degrade. Interesting little design on this piece can you see it? I have spent a lot of time recently mapping out sites from sonar contacts and diving information and slowly we are starting to unlock the Chesil, 2012 will for sure turn out to be our best year yet, watch this space.
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