Scapa Flow dive looters severely punished

Two divers accused of stealing artefacts in the area of Scotland’s legendary Scapa Flow have been financially fined £18,000 each. Both Gordon Meek, 66, and his 48-year-old companion Robert Infante, committed looting on several German vessels resting in the surrounding waters.

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Among the vessels affected by the thieves were the wrecks of the SMS “Markgraf” and SMS “Kronprinz Wilhelm”, resting with five other wrecks near Okney Island since 1919. Originally from Scotland, Meek and his American colleague, Infante, fell in while bringing items onto the boat from which they were conducting the dive.

“For many decades Scapa Flow was one of the greatest underwater attractions available to divers in Europe. Here they could easily admire wrecks of great historical value to our cultural heritage as well as to the local community. They have been resting on the bottom for almost 100 years and the vast majority of divers have treated them with the respect they deserve.” – Prosecutor Andrew Laing said.

The divers were charged with breaking a law described in a document called the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act. During a hearing at Kirkwall Sheriff Court they both pleaded guilty.

“It is vitally important that legislation is in place to protect and, where there is sufficient evidence, to bring consequences against those who break the law. It is in the public interest to prosecute this type of crime and we intend to use all available means to do so” – concluded prosecutor Laing

Scapa Flow is a very interesting historical region, which played an important role in both World War I and World War II. It is famous in the diving community for its huge number of well-preserved vessels and is a destination for divers from all over the world. The wrecks around Orkney are declared monuments and it is strictly forbidden to take any artefacts from them.

Source: bbc.com