Commercial diving insurance is required to perform a range of different activities that require professionals to be submerged underwater for long periods of time. This can include run-of-the-mill salvage work, maintenance, or more extraordinary activities.
This latter category might include the recent news of the discovery of 44 wrecked submarines, most of them German in origin. Der Spiegel reports that the operation was conducted by a British archeological team, who located a "U-boat graveyard" in the southeastern coastal area of the U.K. The process of finding the ships included sonar location as well as the use of robotic equipment to gain access to hazardous environments. These first discoveries may lead to further investigations as the team tries to learn more about these vessels and their crew.
All of these vehicles, including three of English origin, are said to date back to the World War I era of nautical combat, including UC 21 and UB 17. Maritime archeologist Mark Dunkley spoke of the importance of caution when interacting with older wrecks.
"We divers only approach the boats with great caution," he said. "Venturing inside would definitely be extremely dangerous."
While the crew looks for more evidence that could reveal the fate of these ships and their sailors, they also have to grapple with the legal distinctions that govern when divers can intervene.
Complex arrangements of crew and equipment may be required when commercial divers turn their attention to historic sites. Maritime insurance for whichever measures are needed can be sought out in advance so that further important discoveries can be made without worry.