In September 2021 MSDS Marine undertook a diving project on the Bronze Bell wreck site in Wales on behalf of the CHERISH Project. We were commissioned to undertake inspection, survey, investigation, recording and monitoring of the wreck, a previously monitored and designated wreck site in Welsh waters. The work built on previous survey undertake by recreational divers and other archaeological contractors with a five-day diving project taking place in September 2021. Work was undertaken on SCUBA, with diving undertaken from Sea Kat C.
The survey sought to uncover any evidence of change to the wreck, with a particular focus on change caused by climatic changes such as increased storminess. During the project we filmed daily dive diaries and were featured on Channel 4 news. There is also a Mariner’s Mirror podcast available here.
CHERISH is a 6-year European-funded Ireland-Wales project, bringing together four partners across two nations: the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, the Discovery Programme: Centre for Archaeology and Innovation Ireland, Aberystwyth University: Department of Geography and Earth Sciences and Geological Survey, Ireland. The project began in January 2017 and will run until June 2023. It will benefit from €4.9 million through the Ireland-Wales 2014-2020 Programme.
