Scuba News, Underwater Archeology, Wrecks

This year's expedition to the wreck of the 'Mars' continues - video

We recently reported that on 28 June, another season of research on the wreck of the legendary Swedish ship “Mars” began. After the first days devoted to preparation and organisation of work and conducting the first dives, it is time for intensive work. A novelty this year is the presence of the National Geographick film

ByTomasz Andrukajtis

Published: July 11, 2019 - 19:52

Updated: July 22, 2023 - 18:24

This year’s expedition to the wreck of the ‘Mars’ continues – video

We recently reported that on 28 June, another season of research on the wreck of the legendary Swedish ship “Mars” began. After the first days devoted to preparation and organisation of work and conducting the first dives, it is time for intensive work. A novelty this year is the presence of the National Geographick film crew, which is collecting material for a documentary film that is being made.

Work on the wreck is hugely dependent on the weather, but as Richard Lundgren reports on his social media profile, the last few days have been quite kind and some interesting dives have been made.

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The survey team managed to expand the area covered by photogrammetry, several other objectives were surveyed and documented. Although conditions are tough and the dives are extreme, there is general optimism in the camp and great enthusiasm before the next dives.

Mars 2019 project update. This week we are working with National Geographic supporting their Drain the Ocean initiative. We are confident they most will be amazed!

Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) MARIS Västerviks Museum Society for Combat Archaeology Halcyon Dive Systems SANTI Diving MPS Nordic Distributor Johan Rönnby Ingvar Sjöblom Ingemar Lundgren Kirill Egorov Jesper Kjøller Marco Al. Kees Beemster Leverenz John Kendall Rachael Kendall Oleksiy Sverdlov Marcus New Su Eun Kim Kyungsoo Kim Ellen Ingers Joachim Ander Matilda Fredriksson Rolf Warming Veronica Palm

Posted by Richard Lundgren on Thursday, July 11, 2019

The activities around the Mars shipwreck are an excellent example of digitally executed excavations and the application of non-invasive methods used in modern underwater archaeology.

The fragile wreck has been lying at the bottom of the Baltic Sea since 1564, and its depth of 72 metres is a serious impediment to the daily work of archaeologists. Fortunately, thanks to the achievements of modern technology, the “Mars” can be documented using photogrammetry, creating extremely accurate 3D models that are of great research value.

The visualisations thus prepared will serve scientists on the surface, contributing to a better understanding of this amazing archaeological site.

Mars 2019 update. Todays dive operation was very successful. The debris field area photogrammetry was expanded, the keel…

Posted by Richard Lundgren on Monday, July 8, 2019

The international project carried out around the wreck “Mars the Magnificent” brings together the best experts and specialists from around the world. This year the expedition is supported by experienced GUE divers from the USA, Great Britain, Ukraine, Korea, Russia, Denmark and Sweden, for whom in majority it is the return to this wreck. In the past also Poles – Dimitris Savrakakis and Tomasz Stachura made their valuable contribution to the development of the project.

Source: Organizer
Photo: Kirill Egorov

About author

Tomasz Andrukajtis

Editor-in-chief of the DIVERS24 portal and magazine. Responsible for obtaining, translating and developing content. He also supervises all publications. Achived his first diving certification – P1 CMAS, in 2000. Has a degree in journalism and social communication. In the diving industry since 2008.