HMS Hazardous: Dive trail and booklet

English Heritage MRTM summaries. 2002/2003

The Hazardous Protected Wreck Site which lies in Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex. Hazardous was a British 4th rate ship of the line which started life as a French 3rd rate - Le Hazardeux. Captured in battle and refitted the ship was only in use by the British navy for a few years before wrecking in 1706.

The site has been subject to archaeological investigation under licence for the past twenty years. A local sub aqua club - the 308 SAA discovered the wreck and have since been the licencees. Archaeological investigation by the Hazardous project team has been ongoing without direct funding. In recent years the Hampshire & Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology have acted as archaeological advisors for the site and have helped push forward the Diver Trail scheme.

Funding from English Heritage has part funded the annual setting up of the Diver Trail, with diving to re-establish the numbered base stations. An important part of the scheme is the production of the underwater trail booklets which are taken by visiting divers around the site. The trail encompasses the wreck site and the local marine biology that inhabits the wreck and the reef to the south.

To increase the public access initiatives English Heritage have also part funded the production of a booklet about the wreck site. The aim of the booklet is to allow the non-diving public a chance to see similar aspects of the site as those who have completed the trail. The booklet is also aimed at providing more detailed information than is currently in the underwater dive trail booklets. The booklet contains information on the history of the vessel and how it was wrecked. Details of the discovery and subsequent archaeological work are included setting the background for more detail on the ship as a fighting platform and a living environment. The site environment and marine life are also presented.

This page was published on 07/04/04