The most ancient vestige of a ship is a reindeer antler, worked in a surprisingly sophisticated manner, that was used to build the framework of a boat which was probably covered with hides. It dates back to 10,000 years ago and comes from Husum on the North Sea, in the Schleswig-Holstein region of Germany. But there are few doubts that humans traveled seas, lakes and rivers before that, by simply gripping onto tree trunks or straddling them and paddling with their arms, as the Aborigines of Australia still do today.

Even if the memory of their sinking fades or is lost forever, the wrecks remain on the seabed, immersed in silence, bearing visual witness to moments of tragedy or moments of history. Every time you dive down to a wreck, even down to the more famous wrecks, there"s a moment of pure magic： you descend into the blue that becomes deeper and deeper, and only the sound of bubbles breaks the silence. Suddenly the darker shape of the ship or plane appears, and you start to make out its parts,you start to decipher its fragments. The broken sheets of metal, now part of the seabed, are covered with millions of living creatures that have colonized the wreck, transforming it into a colorful and evocative living monument or the camouflaged foundation of a new and sheltering reef. This book seeks to show readers these incredible underwater treasures, up till now reserved exclusively for a lucky few. The text and illustrations highlight a range of underwater destinations and data that will enable readers to explore some of the world"s most evocative wrecks. Highly skilled photographers have contributed the dramatic images of wrecks, reefs,and the living seabed and renowned and experienced scuba divers have provided the detailed practical information needed for preparing dives.Wrecks and routes are described in detail and the three-dimensional graphic reconstructions that accompany the text help the reader to understand each itinerary, making visits to these sunken giants a rewarding experience. To help readers plan successful wreck-diving expeditions, the individual wrecks are not only fully illustrated and described,but are also grouped in geographical clusters, ocean by ocean, site by site.

INTRODUCTION

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Jado Trader

Russian Destroyer

Eagle

Bibb

Spiegel Grove

RMS Rhone

Antilla

SCAPA FLOW

HMS Royal Oak

SMS Brummer

SMS COln

SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Liban

Messerschmitt 109

Prospero Schiaffino

Rubis

Haven

Genova

Sestri KT

Sestri Armed Cargo Ship

B-17 E

Vickers Viking

KT 12

LST

Laura C

RED SEA

AND INDIAN OCEAN

Thistlegorm

Ghiannis D

Carnatic

Chrisoula K.

Numidia

Tugboat

Cargo Ship

Blue Belt

Umbria

Nazario Sauro

"Shipyard"

PACIFIC OCEAN

TRUCK LAGOON

Shinkoku Maru

Aikoku Maru

San Francisco Maru

Fujikawa Maru

Sankisan Maru

RABAUL BAY

Mitsubishi F1 M2

Mitsubishi A6 M2

SOLOMON ISLANDS

Toa Maru

Grumman F6 F3

B-17 E

AUSTRALIA

SS Yongala