The Mediterranean Sea - The Cala Minnola wreck
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The Mediterranean Sea
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Introduction
The sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea are home to over 700 varieties of fish and almost 10 per cent of the world's marine species. Its coastline is one of the most densely populated in the world and the human pressure on this sea is magnified each summer with the influx of holiday makers. Western civilisation developed around these shores but now human activity is having a profound effect on this endangered sea.
The Cala Minnola wreck
Overview
The exploitation of the Mediterranean is not a new phenomenon; man's influences have been here for thousands of years. This sea has facilitated the communications and development of some of the greatest civilisations known to man. The Roman Empire ruled this sea 2000 years ago to become one of humanity's first superpowers.
There have been hundreds of Roman wrecks discovered in the Mediterranean; showing how central this sea was to Rome's distribution and trading networks. However these wrecks often fall victim to salvaging. To combat the problem closed circuit television cameras have been installed on the Cala Minnola wreck near the Egadi Islands. It has proved to be an effective solution in protecting the ancient and precious artefacts from being damaged or stolen.
| Importance: | The abundance of Roman shipwrecks found in the Mediterranean show how influential the Med was in developing the Roman Empire. |
| Dive category: | Although these are wreck dives, the wood has decomposed, resulting in a lack of enclosed spaces. This means no specialised wreck training is necessary. |
| Access: | Dive operators will organise Roman wreck dives in the Tyrrhenian Sea. |
Interesting for
- Wrecks of the Mediterranean Sea
- This Nordic divers' website lists some wrecks found in the Med that date from 480 BC to 395 AD.
- Wrecks and shipfinds of the Mediterranean
- The Mediterranean's influence on Roman trade
- This map, made by the Maritime Museum in Guernsey, shows how influential the Mediterranean Sea was in influencing the trade routes of the Roman Empire.
- Roman Trade Routes
BBC related content
- Oceans presenter biography: Lucy Blue
- Oceans image gallery: The Mediterranean Sea
- BBC History: The Romans
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