The Dive Trail Experience
The HWTMA Dive Trail Experience is much more than just a dive! Whether you come with your dive club or as an individual to dive Alum Bay or The Needles you will also receive a full package of “dry” activities, designed to give you more knowledge of your maritime heritage and appreciation of the need to protect and record it.
Underwater Archaeology Centre
The Underwater Archaeology Centre at Fort
Victoria, near Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight is the base for the Alum
Bay and Needles Dive Trails.
All participants will receive free entry to the Exhibition which houses
shipwreck artefacts, displays, audio-visuals and information about the work
of the HWTMA.
Video Presentations
Using underwater video footage shot by HWTMA archaeologists
during survey work, you will be taken on a guided tour of the wreck site
before you even get wet! This gives you an opportunity to orientate yourself
around the wrecks and their most important features.
Talks
The history of the Needles and Alum Bay wreck sites is a fascinating subject.
Our staff will guide you through this history including the ships, protecting
the wrecks on the Needles and the secrets uncovered by archaeologists. The
talk will also include a pre dive brief, safety instructions and weather/tide
implications.
The Dive
The trails have various markers laid around the site to guide you to points
of interest. An underwater booklet is available to direct you around the
trail. It also contains detailed information on the wrecks, archaeology
and marine life.
An example page from the Alum Bay Dive Trail Booklet