SDSS: The Society for Documentation of Submerged Sites

12/04/2026

Beneath 80 meters of Mediterranean sea lies the first and, so far, the only naval battlefield from antiquity ever discovered.

In 241 BC, over 500 ships clashed in the Battle of the Egadi Islands: the final, decisive battle of the First Punic War that changed history.

Today, we are uncovering its secrets:
⚔️ Warship rams
🛡️ Helmets & cheek plates
🪙 Coins and weapons

🎥 Dive into the Egadi Project: https://sdss.blue/egadi/

Recorded by: Davide Dal Molin
Edited by: Fabio Dal Molin

15/03/2026

At around 76 metres depth, northwest of Lampedusa, the wreck of the Italian steamship SS lies on the seabed.

Built in 1929, the EGADI operated as a passenger and mail vessel connecting Sicily with its southern islands. It remained in service throughout the war. On the night of 31 August 1941, while sailing from Lampedusa to Pantelleria with 109 people on board, the ship was detected by Allied aircraft and later hit by a torpedo. It sank a few hours later, and 44 people lost their lives.

The wreck was located in 2009 and sits largely in one piece, although the bow shows significant damage from the strike. Parts of the structure have collapsed over time, and sections of the site have been impacted by fishing nets. Elements such as the propeller, deckhouses, and armament are still visible, along with details like the ship’s bell, which has since been recovered for conservation.

We documented the site using high-resolution photogrammetry, combining thousands of images collected over several expeditions. This allows the wreck to be studied and shared in detail, while leaving it undisturbed on the seabed.

The EGADI is both a historical record and a protected site, offering insight into wartime maritime activity as well as the ongoing need to preserve underwater cultural heritage.

👉 More information and 3D model: www.underwaterhistory.org

Photo by: Keith Kreitner

13/03/2026

We are honoured to welcome Professor Alessandro Marroni as the new Honorary President of SDSS: The Society for Documentation of Submerged Sites.

A legend in the field of underwater scientific research and safety has joined our family of explorers, researchers and volunteers.

His scientific legacy strengthens our commitment to deep-sea exploration and missions (50–150 metres) to document wrecks, archaeological sites, and fragile ecosystems, raising awareness and sharing knowledge.

We have been protecting the underwater world for over 20 years.

The legacy and vision of Prof. Marroni, which have set fundamental directions in the diving industry, will guide our next steps.

08/03/2026

2,480 years ago, more than 500 warships and 100,000 men clashed in a battle that changed history.

Today, the battlefield is still there: 80 meters below the sea between Sicily’s Egadi Islands.

Bronze rams. Helmets. Coins. Weapons.

For over a decade, technical divers have been descending into this battlefield to document the final moments of the Battle of the Egadi Islands, the clash that ended the First Punic War and gave Rome control of the Mediterranean.

In the interview, published by InDEPTH Magazine, explorer and survey director Mario Arena takes us inside the project:

- How divers locate ships that no longer exist
- How archaeologists map a 2,000-year-old naval battlefield underwater
- What it takes to recover a 250-kg bronze ram from the seabed
- And what these discoveries are revealing about the Battle of the Egadi Islands
A battlefield frozen under the sand, and we’re only beginning to understand it.

Read the full story: https://indepthmag.com/battle-of-the-egadi-islands-ccr/

Battle of the Egadi Islands: A CCR descent to Rome’s decisive sea battle site—bronze rams, helmets, and coins scattered under sand at ~80 m.

27/02/2026

Among the many tools we use in the archaeological investigations at the archaeological site of the Battle of the , metal detectors play an important role by allowing the initial localization of metallic objects buried beneath the seabed sediments.

Finding instruments capable of operating at depths greater than 80 meters has not been easy. One of the models that proved suitable for this purpose is the CEIA mod. CMD®/DW, which we have used with excellent results, and through which we have found in this company a careful and fundamental technical partner for our missions.

It is important to emphasize that the use of these instruments, especially in archaeological areas, can take place only within the framework of official operations and under the supervision of the competent authorities.

Photo by: Claudio Provenzani

21/02/2026

In the Aeolian Archipelago, a volcanic UNESCO World Heritage Site, SDSS: The Society for Documentation of Submerged Sites is conducting ongoing archaeological research and deep-water documentation campaigns across the islands.

The team is performing repeated photogrammetric surveys of ancient wrecks off Panarea and advancing the mapping of Capistello Bay, where a significant concentration of Greco-Roman anchors and artefacts has been identified.

Working in collaboration with relevant authorities and research institutions, including Soprintendenza del Mare of Sicily, leading the scientific coordination, applies advanced underwater documentation techniques to monitor, record, and preserve these submerged cultural sites. The project remains active, contributing continuous data to the study and protection of the archipelago’s underwater heritage.

To learn more about the project visit: https://sdss.blue/eolie/

Picture by: Claudio Provenzani

19/02/2026

Unisciti a noi all’ Eudi Show per un viaggio indimenticabile sotto le onde!

🎮 Vivi i relitti della Seconda Guerra Mondiale in Realtà Virtuale
Indossa il visore e immergiti nella storia.
Esplora leggendari relitti della Seconda Guerra Mondiale esattamente come giacciono sul fondale marino, attraverso straordinari modelli premium in fotogrammetria ad alta risoluzione.

Scivola lungo gli scafi.
Osserva ogni dettaglio.
Vivi la storia marittima cristallizzata nel tempo.

🤝 Vieni a trovarci al nostro stand condiviso: saremo presenti insieme a DAN Europe (Divers Alert Network Europe) .

📍 Padiglione C-D – Stand C31/D26

Passa a trovarci, prova l’immersione in VR e vieni a conoscerci.

🎁 Esclusiva EUDI
Vieni a trovarci di persona e ricevi un voucher speciale per l’accesso premium a UnderwaterHistory.org, così potrai continuare la tua esplorazione anche dopo la fine della fiera.

18/02/2026

We work with universities, museums and research bodies to survey submerged archaeological structures, historical wrecks and environmentally sensitive habitats. Our documentation enables analysis, interpretation and conservation planning.

Partnership enquiries are welcome.

Photo by: Niccolò Crespi & Francisca Isadora

16/02/2026

Many submerged wrecks, including memorial sites and war graves, are not only important historical locations, but also extraordinary marine habitats. On sandy seabeds, a wreck becomes an artificial reef, a dense metropolis of biodiversity that attracts marine life.

Because of this concentration of life, wrecks are frequently targeted by intensive fishing activity. Nets often become trapped in the structures and are abandoned. These ghost nets continue to capture and kill marine animals for years, causing silent and unnecessary damage to fragile ecosystems.

For this reason, SDSS: The Society for Documentation of Submerged Sites dedicates part of every season to removing lost fishing gear from wreck sites. These operations protect marine life, reduce long-term environmental impact, and help preserve the integrity of underwater sites that serve as living reefs.

These missions are often carried out in collaboration with specialized environmental organizations such as Healthy Seas and Ghost Diving. One of our joint operations off Lampedusa, focused on the removal of ghost nets from WWII wrecks, was documented in a three-part film series:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5Umo8rJP2KHiq-cMQYroPfrAiY87kLl-&si=N7foBaSQ3iFWNHHj

We are proud to contribute our diving expertise to initiatives where marine conservation and responsible wreck stewardship meet.

Photos by : Derk Remmers

11/02/2026

Since 1999, SDSS: The Society for Documentation of Submerged Sites has been dedicated to the study, documentation and protection of submerged historical, cultural and environmental heritage.

Operating at depths below 50 meters, our team provides researchers and institutions with access to rarely accessible sites.

Our mission: to ensure these hidden archives are recorded, understood and protected.

Photo by: Niccolò Crespi

03/11/2025

Performance begins with passion — and comfort keeps it going.

We’re proud to collaborate with K 01 Diving, a brand that’s redefined what true diving comfort means through innovation, craftsmanship, and genuine respect for the environment.

Together, we dive deeper: with purpose and passion for every detail.

18/10/2025

From one diver to the next, side by side, perfectly in sync. That’s what happens when teamwork meets SUEX - The Submarine Exploration Company.

Big thanks to for years of amazing support.