INFORMATION AND OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST

Underwater cultural heritage and scuba diving are two elements tightly linked that raise a great deal of interest among historians, archaeologists, divers and the general public. The Spanish Government and Spain’s different regions have facilities and staff dedicated to the study and conservation of the underwater heritage. In this section we wish to offer a list of links to information and documents that we consider may be useful to those interested in visiting or getting informed about any aspects related to diving in wrecks.

INTERNATIONAL

Since 1972, UNESCO acknowledged natural and historical heritage as two basic elements of protection at the international level. There are different documents and tools to promote protection and awareness:

  • Convention (2001)for the protection of the underwater cultural heritage (Official text). - To visit
  • And for an applied version, UNESCO manual for activities directed at underwater cultural heritage: - To visit

SPAIN

  • The Spanish government rules the protection of the underwater heritage with 1985’s law Ley de Patrimonio Histórico Español, 1985. - To visit
  • To manage and protect the underwater historic heritage, in 2009 it was created the ‘Libro Verde del Plan Nacional de Protección del Patrimonio Cultural Subacuático Español’ (Green Book for the National Plan for the Protection of Spanish Subaquatic Cultural Heritage) which engages the stakeholders into the creation of common practices for protection: Green Book of the National Plan for the Protection of Spanish Underwater Cultural Heritage, which commits the different institutions to specify common protection guidelines. - To visit
  • National Museum of Underwater Archaeology in Cartagena (ARQUA), dependent of the Ministry of Culture and Sport, is a world reference institution for research and divulgation of the underwater cultural heritage. ARQUA’s website holds plenty of information: National Museum of Underwater Archeology of Cartagena . - To visit

National SOS telephone line for report of bad practices: ( 34) 968 121 166

    • The Guardia Civil is an important security body for the protection and defence of the national heritage and created a Plan for the Defense of the Spanish Historical Heritage. - To visit

— Operation Amphora

- News

AUTONOMIES:

Andalusia

  • Law for the protection of the Historical Heritage of Andalusia (2007). — Visit
  • Andalusian Institute for Historical Heritage - To visit
  • Andalusian SOS telephone line for report of bad practices: ( 34) 956 203 394

Region of Valencia

  • Valencian Centre for Underwater Archaeology. - To visit
  • Valencian SOS telephone line for report of bad practices: ( 34) 964 586 624

Catalonia

  • Catalonian Centre for Underwater Archaeology. - To visit
  • Catalonian SOS telephone line for report of bad practices: ( 34) 972 206 631

OTHER PROJECTS AND DATABASES IN RELATION TO UNDERWATER HERITAGE

Contact email: contacto@buceaenlahistoria.org