The Anse aux Bouleaux site is located in very shallow water. Although many people might think this facilitates underwater excavations, the situation is actually far from ideal. Pressure changes under water are more marked at a depth of less than 10 metres (30 feet) than at greater depths. Moreover, variations in pressure are even more perceptible within the first 3 metres (10 feet). These factors have a direct impact on the work of divers. To dive and work comfortably, they have to wear, in addition to a watertight neoprene suit, around 23 kilos (50 pounds) of lead weights! Needless to say, back problems are common among underwater archaeologists!
Pressure changes also affect people's ears. Divers have to constantly adjust to these changes, even when they move up or down only a foot or two. In addition, since water pressure changes with the tide, divers have to make adjustments even when they work in one spot.
Water temperature poses another major challenge for underwater archaeologists. Although it is usually around 9oC at Anse aux Bouleaux, it sometimes falls to 3oC. Archaeological work involves a great deal of drawing and taking measurements, tasks requiring that divers remain fairly still. Obviously, even though divers wear watertight suits, they soon start to feel cold and numb, making it even harder for them to do precision work.
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Marc-André Bernier surveys the Anse aux Bouleaux site during a raging storm on July 20, 1996. Two outcomes were possible: the site would either be destroyed or buried in sand. In the end, it was buried, and it took the field crew a whole week to uncover it again. |
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Divers can be seen working in the foreground of this photograph. Extremely low tides in late July and early August created some fairly unusual situations, given that the site was sometimes covered by no more than one metre of water. Marc Tremblay, the diver who discovered the shipwreck, keeps a close watch on the underwater work from the spoil heap formed by the sand excavated from the site. |
