Submerged Cultural Resources Exploration Team

Causes: Marine Science & Oceanography, Technology

Mission: Submerged Cultural Resources Exploration Team (SCRET) promotes the exploration, identification, documentation, and recovery of submerged cultural resources, primarily in the Pacific Northwest. SCRET is a Washington nonprofit corporation that is operated exclusively for public and charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. SCRET has the following goals:(1) To explore, identify, and document submerged cultural resources, primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Such resources include shipwrecks, aircraft and other wreckage of historical interest. SCRET has a special interest and focus on wrecks located in deeper water that have not been explored previously.(2) To produce high-quality video documentation of submerged cultural resources in the Pacific Northwest.(3) To document the deterioration of submerged cultural resources over time. We know that wrecks deteriorate, but we know very little about how quickly the process occurs. SCRET intends to explore this process by visiting certain wrecks on a regular basis to record how the condition of the wreck changes over time.(3) To develop standards for conducting safe diving operations on wrecks located in deeper water.(4) To work with applicable government agencies to ensure that submerged cultural resources are protected from harm. For example, wrecks located in commercial anchorage areas are presently exposed to damage from the anchors of large commercial vessels.(5) To educate the public about the historical significance and importance of submerged cultural resources in the Pacific Northwest.