ABOUT US

THE SOCIETY FOR THE DOCUMENTATION OF SUBMERGED SITES

EXPLORATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF EXTRAORDINARY SUBMERGED SITES

SDSS is an international no profit organization founded in 1999 and based in Italy.
Our mission is the study, research, enhancement, dissemination and protection of the historical, cultural, biological and environmental submerged heritage.
 
Our main activity consists in the documentation, with different systems and methodologies of submerged sites such as historical wrecks,
archeological sites, peculiar underwater habitats and sites of concerns for environmental instability, in collaboration with researchers and institutions.

SDSS is affiliate to Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) and our international teams of volunteers include highly skilled technical divers, documentarists
and explorers capable to safely and efficiently operate beyond the depth limits normally considered in scientific diving.

In the range between 50 and 150 meters under the sea surface, SDSS documentation capacities offers a unique opportunity to scientists and institution
to get detailed surveys and other scientific operations in this mostly unexplored underwater environment.

Documentation

Our mission is to document submerged sites of relevant historical, archaeological, biological and environmental value, making use of the most modern technologies.

Awarness

We aim at raising interest and passion for the underwater historical and biological heritage in the general public, making visible the spectacular underwater sites and telling their stories

Protection

We aim at protecting the underwater environments and the cultural and biological heritage hidden under the water surface

1999
1999

· Foundation of WDS
· Historical shipwrecks location and documentation operations in Croatia: the wrecks of RN AUDACE, SS EUTERPE, SS ALBANIEN. Publication of SOPs and Wreck Diving Manual.

2000
2000

· Pag Island Expedition: The Ghost Fleet of Pag Island: the wrecks of HMS Adelnham, UJ 201 and UJ 205 are located and documented.

2001
2001

· Pantelleria Island: First Archaeological Campaign in collaboration with GIASS: the archaeological site of P.ta Tracino is located and documented.

2002
2002

· Start of the Shipwrecks of the Battle of Convoys Project.

2005
2005

· Pantelleria Island: Deep Archaeological Survey Expedition, in collaboration with Soprintendenza del Mare (SdM) and Global Underwater Explorers (GUE).
· Shipwrecks of the Battles of Narvik Expedition, with BSTD and GUE.

2006
2006

· Central Mediterranean: Shipwrecks of the Battle of Convoys Project - First Field Campaign.

2011
2011

· North Sea: Shipwrecks of the Battle of the Jutland Project, with GUE Belgium.
· Shipwrecks of the Battle of Convoys Project - 6th Field Campaign.
· Pantelleria Island: Deep Archaeological Survey - 3rd Field Campaign.

2014
2014

· Aeolian Islands: Deep Archaeological Survey of the Aeolian Arcipelago - First Field Campaign, with GUE and Global Sub Dive.
· Shipwrecks of the Battle of Convoys Project - 9th Field Campaign, with GUE and Global Sub Dive.
· Documentation of the Shipwrecks of North Sardinia and Bonifacio - First Campaign.

2015
2015

· Sardinia: Documentation of the Shipwrecks of North Sardinia and Bonifacio - Second Campaign.
· Deep Archaeological Survey of the Aeolian Arcipelago - 2nd Field Campaign.

2017
2017

· Egadi Arcipelago: The Battle of the Egadi Archaeological Survey - First Campaign, with GUE.
· Documentation of the Shipwrecks of North Sardinia and Bonifacio - 3rd Field Campaign.

2018
2018

· Finale Ligure: Archaeological Survey of a Gun Boat from the Battle of Genoa (1795), with STAS Liguria and 1795 Association.
· Deep Archaeological Survey of the Aeolian Arcipelago - 4th Field Campaign.
· The Battle of the Egadi Archaeological Survey - 2nd Campaign, with GUE.

2019
2019

· Vis Island: The wrecks of the Battle of Lissa Documentation Project (1866), with GUE.
· Archaeological Survey of a Gun Boat from the Battle of Genoa (1795), 2nd Field Campaign, with STAS Liguria, 1795 Association and COMSUBIN Marina Militare italiana.
· Deep Archaeological Survey of the Aeolian Arcipelago - 5th Field Campaign.
· The Battle of the Egadi Archaeological Survey - 3rd Campaign.
· Shipwrecks of the Battle of Convoys Project - 11th Field Campaign.

2021
2021

· The name of the Organization is changed in SDSS - The Society for the Documentation of Submerged Sites.
· Shipwrecks of the Battle of Convoys Project - 13th Field Campaign.
· The Battle of the Egadi Archaeological Survey - 5th Campaign.
· Pantelleria Island: Deep Archaeological Survey - 4th Field Campaign.