The wreck of HMS Perseus has been cleared from the nets

A group of technical divers operating under the aegis of Ghost Diving carried out a successful operation to clear the wreck of the submarine HMS Perseus.

As a result of the entire operation, it was possible to successfully remove the accumulated broken nets and hooks over the years. Thanks to this british shipwreck The wreck, which dates back to World War II, presents itself in all its glory and is a much safer diving target.

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The amazing story of HMS Perseus

In the case of this particular wreck, we are not talking about just any sunken ship, but a true legend! The story of HMS Perseus is so incredible that for a long time hardly anyone believed it. Fortunately, the definitive proof was provided by the divers who found the wreck in 1996. Sounds mysterious? Great! If you haven’t heard the story of the Perseus by now, you definitely need to catch up!

The shipwreck of HMS Perseus rests at a depth of 52 metres, in the waters between the Greek islands of Kefalonia and Zakintos. It is an extremely popular site for technical divers, but also for local wildlife. Unfortunately, the stripped nets pose a lethal threat to the animals, so decisive action had to be taken.

Sad statistics

Researchers estimate that millions of animals die every year as a result of being trapped in broken ghost nets. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out activities which will systematically reduce this number. Fortunately, both the increasing awareness of people and technological solutions allow for more efficient actions in this area.

Between 22 and 26 July, Ghost Diving divers supported by members of the Aquatic Scuba Diving Club of Kefalonia, made three 65-minute dives on the wreck of HMS Perseus. The result? The vessel was successfully cleaned of the lingering net fragments. Within 5 days of diving from the Perseus wreck and wrecks at similar depths, they managed to remove a total of half a ton of ghost nets!

Removal of nets

First, a reconnaissance was carried out to accurately assess the extent of the work and prepare a plan for a smooth operation. The decision was taken to focus first on removing the nets from the kiosk and the bow section of the hull. The task was very difficult and required great concentration, as over the years a mass of long pieces of rope had accumulated in the nets. They posed a serious threat to the divers clearing the wreck of HMS Perseus.

Belonging to the Royal Navy, the wreck of HMS Perseus lies at a depth of 52 metres, in the waters between the Greek islands of Kefalonia and Zakynthos. It is an extremely popular site for technical divers, but also for local wildlife. Unfortunately, the broken nets pose a lethal threat to the animals, so decisive action had to be taken.

The event was organised by Healthy Seas and, as well as removing the ripped nets, included a social awareness campaign. It was carried out in Kefalonia with the participation of local groups and artists. All this was done to highlight the importance of the marine and coastal Natura 2000 sites around the island. It was also about raising awareness about marine pollution from ghost nets.

In early June 2020, we reported on a similar action removal of ghost nets from the Baltic wreck of the SS HispaniaAt the time, fantastic photos of the steamer were taken by Alex Dawson.

The stripped fishing nets recovered during this mission will now go from waste to clothing. They will be processed together with other nylon waste into ECONYL® yarn. This forms the basis for new products such as socks, swimwear, sportswear and carpets.