Wreck diving safety: why you never go inside without training

• Overhead environment: no direct way up to the surface.
• Disorientation: wrecks lying on their side or upside down make floors and doorways hard to read.
• Collapse: deterioration can block passages; rusted doors can trap a diver.
• Silt-out: fine silt stirred by fins or bubbles can wipe out visibility.
• Entanglement: fishing line, nets, cables and your own line.
• Sharp metal and contaminants: rusted edges, oils and other residues; wartime wrecks can be war graves.

DAN advises advanced wreck training from a qualified professional before entering a wreck, a primary reel to lay a line out, strong primary and backup lights, and enough gas for the team to exit with a reserve.

Yes — most of a famous wreck like the Thistlegorm or the Abu Nuhas wrecks can be enjoyed from outside. Inside sections need the right training and guide.