Film charts the discovery of Bermuda's shipwrecks

An educational film charting the discovery and conservation of Bermuda’s shipwrecks has been launched.

The short documentary — Reefs, Wrecks and ­Renegades: A Journey of Discovery Aboard The Spirit of Bermuda — has been made by the Bermuda Sloop Foundation, National Museum of Bermuda and LookBermuda.  It follows the journey of 500 Middle 3 students who took part in the research project through five-day learning expeditions aboard the Spirit of ­Bermuda. 

They joined the sloop throughout the 2009/2010 academic year and were ­engaged in the authentic process of identifying, ­registering, surveying and documenting a previously unexplored shipwreck, ­located in the shallows of Castle Harbour near Nonsuch Island.

The students learned how to apply for a licence to ­explore the wreck from the Historic Wrecks Authority, how to seek environmental advice, survey and dredge the wreck, and how to figure out the ship’s identity.

They also learned how to conserve historical ­artefacts and how these can provide an insight into ­cultures of the past.

The film will act as an ­interdisciplinary teaching tool in schools and will also educate the general public on the importance of Bermuda’s underwater ­cultural ­heritage.

The Bermuda Sloop Foundation and National Museum of Bermuda thanked ­students from Bermuda High School for Girls, Bermuda Institute, Clearwater Middle School and Whitney Institute, as well as JP Skinner from BIOS, Dr. Philippe Rouja from Conservation Services and the Historic Wrecks ­Authority, for their participation in the film.

The documentary will be distributed to all of the schools via LookBermuda’s soon-to-be-launched ‘Bermuda Streaming Platform’. This will be ­combined with interactive lesson plans and can be viewed online at www.lookbermuda.com

It can also be seen on the LookTV cable channel 001 every night this week at 7:30pm. The film will then become part of the regular programming.