The annual 'Adopt a wreck' award is made to the person or group that has made the most significant contribution to maritime archaeology and research through the adoption process. The award is supported by PADI, BSAC, SAA and the Receiver of Wreck. Representatives from these organisations form a panel who judge the entries for the award.

Adopt a wreck Award Winners

2012
The 2012 award was presented to the Southsea Sub Aqua Club (SSAC) (www.southseasubaqua.org.uk) for project “Kedge Hook” - the wreck of a British WW2 Tank Landing Craft in the Eastern approaches to Portsmouth Harbour, believed to be that of HMLCT 427 which sank on her return to Portsmouth after delivering her cargo of tanks on D Day.

2011
The AaW award for 2011 was awarded to the Weymouth Lunar Society (www.weymouthlunarsociety.org.uk) for their outstanding desk based research on the “Lost torpedoes of Weymouth and Portland”. This project has not only enlightened us with new and exciting information regarding early British torpedoes but also how vital it is to utilise divers and non divers to produce a high quality archaeological report.

Meanwhile, the certificate of merit went to Paul Barnett and “Friends of Purton” (www.friendsofpurton.org.uk) for their involvement with “The Arkendale H & Wastedale H Severn and Wye Railway Bridge Disaster”. Those involved have produced an exceptional level of work regarding the promotion of the disaster and protection of the wrecks, and not to mention the memorial for those who lost their lives.

The New Forest National Park Authority (www.newforestnpa.gov.uk) was also awarded a certificate of merit for their work on the “Underwater Heritage Trail”. They showed good training and utilisation of volunteers and paid staff to achieve a new way for divers and non-divers to learn about dive sites in their local area.

The final certificate of merit was awarded to the Southsea Sub-Aqua Club (SSAC) (www.southseasubaqua.org.uk) and their project, “Kedge Hook- HMLCT 427”.

2010
The 2010 award went to Southsea Sub Aqua Club (SSAC) (www.southseasubaqua.org.uk) - the first dive group to win the award twice in a row. They were presented the award for their work on the site “Patch”, which is believed to be the Landing Craft LTC (A) 2428. If this is the case it would directly link “Patch” to the “Tanks & Bulldozers” site which the dive group are also involved with.

2009
In 2009, the award went to the Southsea Sub Aqua Club (SSAC) (www.southseasubaqua.org.uk) for their work on the “Tanks & Bulldozers 'Sleeping Centaurs'” site off the south coast of England. The project involved recorded and identifying the vehicles.

2008
The 2008 AaW Award was presented to Ed Cumming and Todd Stevens of the Islands Maritime Archaeology Group for their work on the “Rosevear Ledge Site”. Work was carried out on the site to try to positively identify the site as that of the Nancy packet. This was done through historical research and visits to the site. The results of the research have been published in an historical fiction book and as a CD Rom.

2007
The 2007 award went to Paul Barnett for his work on the “Purton Hulks”. Paul has adopted all 80 of the hulks which are located along the banks of the river Severn between Purton and Sharpness. He has carried out intensive historical research combined with archaeological surveys of the remaining hulks assisted by the Friends of Purton (www.friendsofpurton.org.uk) and the NAS.

2006
In 2006 the AaW was not awarded. But certificates of merit were presented to: Millenium Divers Dorset for their work on the “Unknown Coaster”, Portland Harbour and to the Islands Maritime Archaeology Group for their work on the Unknown Wreck, “Crim Reef”.

2005
The 2005 Adopt a Wreck Award was presented to the Weymouth Lunar Society (www.weymouthlunarsociety.org.uk) for their work on the site of the “Earl of Abergavenny” in Weymouth Bay. The project aimed to record and monitor the site and to undertake a commemorative and outreach programme to divers and the general public to coincide with the 200th Anniversary of the sinking.

2004
In 2004 the award went to the Queen's University Belfast Sub-Aqua Club (QUBSAC) (subaqua.club.qub.ac.uk) for their investigation of the “Alastor”, a steel-hulled luxury motor yacht that sank in 1948. The work included survey and historical research that was able to correctly identify this site which had previously been known as the “Alisdair”.

2003
The first annual AaW award was won by the Joint Services Dive Club (www.jssadc.org) and the Gibraltar Museum's Underwater Research Unit (www.gibmuseum.gi) for their work the “Inner and Outer” wreck sites, located off the detached breakwater (mole), Gibraltar Harbour. Work was carried out to try and identify the sites and determine if they are the remains of one vessel or two.