From ship to wreck 1, the ship sails on the sea (2019-01-01) by François-Xavier Lagey & ADRAMARAdramar
A few hundred years ago, a ship was sailing toward Brittany (France), its hold loaded with goods.
The storm breaks out, the sea submerges the ship (2019-01-01) by François-Xavier Lagey & ADRAMARAdramar
Due to a storm, a navigation error, or a battle, the vessel hit a reef, took on water, drifted off course, and sank in the direction the current took it.
Time does its work (2019-01-01) by François-Xavier Lagey & ADRAMARAdramar
Time took its toll, and the shipwreck became stuck in the sand, its wood swollen with water. Under the weight of the sediment and the endless rhythm of the ocean's swell and tides, the wood collapsed and the wreck gradually fell apart.
The ship crashes and breaks up, the sea takes it over (2019-01-01) by François-Xavier Lagey & ADRAMARAdramar
Its position on the seabed marked out by just a few remnants covered with seaweed, the wreck had almost disappeared from sight on the seabed. Protected by the sand, it was preserved for centuries … until archaeologists finally discovered it.
Underwater investigating (2019-01-01) by François-Xavier Lagey and ADRAMARAdramar
Like regular archaeologists, maritime archaeologists study the past through physical remains, that is, by traces of human activity found at the bottom of the sea. The conditions are somewhat different though, since they have to perform their tasks underwater!
Use of the vacuum cleaner to clear the remains (2007-07-17) by Teddy Seguin & ADRAMARAdramar
Old wooden ships can be preserved for thousands of years underwater! At least, that is the case if they are covered with sand, which protects them.
The taret, sea worm and enemy of the underwater archaeologist (2005-07-02) by Teddy Seguin & ADRAMARAdramar
The teredo is a xylophagous marine mollusc, known as a shipworm, which feeds on wood and can cause considerable damage to wooden shipwrecks (e.g., the 18th century La Natière site in Saint-Malo, France).
Diver observing the naval architecture in place (2006-07-24) by Teddy Seguin & ADRAMARAdramar
If the conditions are favorable, shipwrecks can be exceptionally well preserved, as is the case with these elements of naval architecture from a pirate ship wrecked off the coast of Saint-Malo (France) more than 250 years ago.
Excavating underwater (2008-01-01) by T. Boyer / ADRAMARAdramar
Discover the underwater excavations and the work of maritime archaeologists at the pirate shipwreck site of La Natière (Saint-Malo, 18th century).
Fetlar underwater photography, photogrammetry, Brittany, Saint-Malo 1 (2017-10-28) by Jacques Le Lay & ADRAMARAdramar
More recent metal shipwrecks can be seen looming up from the seabed. However, their days are numbered due to the rusting process, which is turning them into shapeless piles of sheet metal destined to disappear.
D-DAY wrecks: dive on the American destroyer HMS Lawford (2019-06-15) by Jacques Le Lay/Sous le MerAdramar
Contemporary shipwrecks are also a part of our heritage. Dive down to a Second World War wreck, the HMS Lawford, which sank off the landing beaches during Operation Overlord on June 8, 1944.
