The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

It is the Department's policy to protect the best examples of our underwater heritage whilst encouraging greater access to it.

The Department is responsible for designating and redesignating wrecks off English and Northern Irish waters under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. In addition the Secretary of State grants licences for permission to dive on protected wreck sites, following advice from the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites (ACHWS) and English Heritage, Historic Scotland, Cadw, and the Environment and Heritage Service (Department of the Environment Northern Ireland).

Additionally we work with English Heritage our statutory advisors to promote England's maritime heritage and encourage accessibility to it through education and promotion.

Please visit the DCMS website for further information.