Have you ever been diving or walking the beaches and found something buried in the sand that you wondered how old it was?  We dive many wrecks all over Florida.  Do you know where they come from?  This course is taught by the FPAN (Florida Public Archaeology Network)  They will teach you about the history of the wrecks around Florida that have been designated as "State Underwater Archaeological Preserves", how we can help to preserve these sites for future divers, how to do research in identifying a wreck site, and how to create a site map.  This is one of the most fascinating classes you can take.

 It is a 4 day course in which you will have 2 classroom lectures and excercises, and 1 day in the pool.  SSEAS (Submerged Sites Education & Archaeological Stewardship) divers will be trained to recognize historic shipwrecks, to record the site using photography and hand-drawn site plans, and to fill out Florida Master Site File recording forms for shipwrecks.  The SSEAS progran consists of taking he Orientation to Underwater Archaeology for Sport Divers Training course.  This course includes classroom, confined water, and open water instruction.  Upon completion, participants will receive an FPAN certificate of training and SSI Specialty certification may be possible as well.  Once training is complete, SSEAS Divers are able to perform all necessary tasks and are encouraged to begin investigating NOAA's Automated Wreck and Obstruction Information System (AWOIS) sites.

Additional SSEAS Projects:  Trained divers also will be asked to monitor mearby Florida's Underwater Archaeological Preserves (www.museumsinthesea.com) and other known submerged sites.  SSEAS divers may also participate in the Nautical Archaeological Society's Big Anchor Project (www.biganchorproject.com) to identify isolated anchors on land and under water.

In Pinellas County we have the USS Narcissus, a Civil War Tug that wrecked off Egmont Key in 1866 that has been nominated to become the 12th Florida State Underwater Archeological Preserves.  We need certified SSEAS divers to help monitor this site once nominated.

Classes will be booked for 6 or more people.  Please call the shop now and put your name on the list.  This SSI Specialty course can be credited toward your Advanced Diver certification.