REITIA Surveying Underwater Archaeology

A meaningful aspect of history and fully a part of humanity's common culture, the underwater cultural heritage (UCH) is coming under increasing threat. The progress made in exploration techniques has made the sea bottom accessible to many more people, by so determining the real risk of loss of materials of irreplaceable value for the study of the humanity's origins and civilizations' history as well.the other institutions, UNESCO (through a General conference held in Paris, October-November 2001) acknowledged the importance of the UCH as an integral part of the cultural heritage of humanity and a particularly important component in the history of peoples, nations and their relations with each other. Furthermore, the Conference became aware of the importance of protecting and preserving the UCH, also keeping into consideration the growing interest in and public appreciation of it. It was also stressed the relevance of the public's right to enjoy the educational and recreational benefit of responsible, non intrusive access to "in situ" UCH. Cooperation among States, international organizations, institutions, professional organizations, archaeologist, divers was also seen as essential for the protection of UCH. More and more the connections between archaeology and tourism have stirred the interest of Government and Institutions of countries marked by significant an UCH. CMAS, the Worldwide Underwater Association, also directly support this specialization area, by currently defining methodologies and issuing the international certificates of Archaeology Diver, whose purpose is familiarising the divers to the underwater archaeology techniques and making the diver aware with the necessity of protecting the cultural heritage. It can be easily understood how the survey, excavation and protection of UCH need the availability and application of special scientific methods, the use of proper techniques and equipment as well as an adequate degree of professional specialization. CMAS Archaeosub accreditations are international certificates whose standards and procedures are defined and monitored by the CMAS Scientific Committee, composed by specialists of archaeology, marine biology, geology etc. Technical courses are primarily aimed at training and instructing divers to look after and preserve the underwater cultural heritage, under the direction of entitled authorities. CMAS' standards are then accepted by each single national diving organizations, which applies them in specific programs and in compliance with national restrictions and regulation ruling the matter.