Posted by CalAbDiver on August 10, 2001 at 14:55:08:
In Reply to: Shipwreck Legislation posted by Kevin on August 10, 2001 at 14:31:37:
>>Our very own National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has joined the fray, siding with the UNESCO treaty. NOAA guidelines, that hinder salvage efforts by the RMS Titanic group, are nearly identical to UNESCO's proposals.
Once NOAA's guidelines are passed and published, divers can expect them to be applied to all shipwrecks, creating an impenetrable layer of bureaucratic regulations and red tape. In a nutshell, this pact would revoke the present admiralty law of salvage that has been in effect for hundreds of years. Millions of recreational and commercial divers do not need or want these restraints. Heavy penalties, including threats of fines and imprisonment, are the offspring of both UNESCO's and NOAA's proposals that would lock shipwreck divers out of all the oceans of the world. <<
i did not see where PADI or NAUI or YMCA or SSI or IANTD or TDI commented or were asked to comment.