MSDS Marine and MSDS Heritage

24/08/2026

🌊⚓ What’s it really like to spend your internship with a team of maritime archaeologists?

Our latest Intern Insights comes from 2026 intern Emily Haines-Furse, who certainly managed to pack a lot into her time with us! Emily joined the team supporting diving operations during an assessment of the Mary Rose, got hands-on with conservation and archaeological material from the Rooswijk, and helped digitise the fascinating archive from the Coronation protected wreck site.

From dive kit and diver tracking to concretions, conservation and handwritten archaeological records, Emily got to experience just how varied a career in maritime archaeology can be.

We’re really proud to offer paid internships that give people at the beginning of their careers genuine experience of working in the sector. A massive thank you to Historic England for their support in helping make these opportunities possible. Investing in the next generation is vital to the future of maritime archaeology. 💙

And thank you, Emily, for being such an enthusiastic part of the team!

👉 Read about Emily’s internship here:
https://msdsmarine.com/intern-insights-emily-haines-furse-on-her-msds-marine-internship/

21/08/2026

Today marks a little bit of history – the very first International Day for Underwater Cultural Heritage! ⚓🤿

21st August has been officially designated by UNESCO as the International Day for Underwater Cultural Heritage, with 2026 marking its first ever celebration. The day provides a global opportunity to raise awareness of the extraordinary cultural heritage that lies beneath our oceans, seas, rivers and lakes – and of the importance of understanding, protecting and sharing it.

For us at MSDS Marine, there couldn’t be a more appropriate way to mark the day than by actually being out on the water doing just that!

Our team are diving today on the protected wreck site Northumberland, working alongside Pascoe Archaeology. The work has been made possible thanks to funding from Historic England and is helping us to better understand, record and care for this nationally important wreck site.

Underwater cultural heritage isn’t simply about shipwrecks and objects on the seabed. It is about the people, communities and stories connected to them – and ensuring that this remarkable shared heritage survives for future generations.

We’re incredibly lucky that our jobs allow us to spend our days investigating and protecting heritage beneath the waves, and we’re delighted to be joining archaeologists, divers, volunteers, researchers and heritage organisations around the world in celebrating the first .

And what better place to spend it than underwater? 🌊🤿⚓

A huge thank you to Dan Pascoe for working with us today and to Historic England for supporting the work.

20/08/2026

Exciting news from MSDS Marine!

We’re delighted to announce that MSDS Marine has been awarded a contract by Historic Environment Scotland to provide underwater archaeology services. Through the contract, we’ll be supporting the investigation of Scotland’s incredible underwater cultural heritage, helping to select and deliver appropriate fieldwork for sites chosen for investigation.

A key part of our approach is working with the people who know, use and care about these sites. We have a strong track record of bringing together professional archaeologists, volunteer divers and local communities, and we’re looking forward to continuing that approach in Scotland.

From planning and investigation through to understanding and caring for sites, we want divers, volunteers and communities to feel part of the journey – while delivering positive outcomes for Scotland’s nationally important marine heritage.

We’re really looking forward to getting started!

19/08/2026

📢 New report: Local Authority Resilience and Change

You may have spotted the recent announcement from the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists about its new Local Government Network, bringing together CIfA members working across local government, national park authorities and local authority museums. The Network is one of the outcomes of the Local Authority Resilience and Change project, and we’re pleased to be able to share the final report from that work.

MSDS Marine was delighted to work with CIfA on this important project, which explored the challenges, opportunities and future resilience of Local Authority Historic Environment Services in England.

Drawing on the experiences of both service users and service providers through surveys, focus groups and thematic analysis, the project looked at the pressures facing services in the current political and financial landscape – but also at the opportunities for positive change.

The report makes recommendations around strategic review, advocacy, training and communication, with many of these now set to be taken forward through CIfA’s new Local Government Network.

Local authority historic environment services play a vital role in protecting, understanding and managing our heritage. We’re really pleased to have contributed to work that will help support those services and the people working within them.

📖 Read the full Local Authority Resilience and Change report:
https://www.archaeologists.net/sites/default/files/2026-08/21CAP_Resilience_and_Change_Report_Final_Accessible.pdf

🔗 Find out about CIfA’s new Local Government Network:
https://www.archaeologists.net/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42621&qid=4013390

23/07/2026

🌊 Intern Insights: Jake Turner on his MSDS Marine Internship

What’s it really like to spend time working in marine archaeology?

In the latest instalment of our Intern Insights series, Jake Turner reflects on his internship with MSDS Marine, sharing how the experience helped him develop practical skills, build confidence, and gain a deeper understanding of the diverse work involved in protecting our underwater heritage.

From working alongside experienced professionals to seeing how archaeology supports marine development and heritage management, Jake's story highlights the value of hands-on learning and why opportunities like these are so important for the next generation of maritime archaeologists.

A huge thank you to Jake for sharing his experiences—we're proud to have been part of his journey. Thanks to Historic England for helping support our paid placements.

📖 Read Jake's blog here: https://msdsmarine.com/intern-insights-jake-turner-on-his-msds-marine-internship/

23/07/2026

Did you know we offer equipment servicing and cylinder testing?

To help people find out about these services, including our opening hours, we’ve created a new page: MSDS Servicing

Give it a follow!

18/07/2026

What a fantastic way to begin the Festival of Archaeology!

We're delighted to share the news that volunteers from the South West Maritime Archaeological Group (SWMAG) have discovered a rare Bronze Age sword while diving on the protected wreck sites off Salcombe.

This incredible find shows exactly why volunteers are so important to archaeology.

For decades, SWMAG members have dedicated thousands of hours to investigating and protecting these nationally important sites. Through the Historic England funded SWMAG: The Next Generation of Affiliated Volunteers project, delivered with MSDS Marine, experienced members have been passing on their knowledge to new volunteers—and it's the next generation who have now made this remarkable discovery.

We're incredibly proud to support these dedicated volunteers, helping with archaeological training, conservation and project delivery, but today is all about recognising the people who give up their free time to protect our underwater heritage.

A huge congratulations to Becky Gill, Catherine Gill and every SWMAG volunteer, past and present. This discovery belongs to all of you.
It's the perfect reminder that archaeology isn't just about the past—it's about the people protecting it for the future.

Happy Festival of Archaeology! 🎉

Read the full story here; https://swmag.org/archives/rare-bronze-age-sword-discovered-by-volunteer-divers-on-historic-salcombe-site/

See the sword here: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/salcombe-bronze-age-sword-ba32a2dd4afe4de9ab6c713c7066b835

15/07/2026

The Commercial Archaeological Geophysics Seminar (CAGS) returned this year for the first time since 2014, bringing together archaeologists, geophysicists and heritage professionals from across the sector. It was definitely worth the wait!

Our latest blog from Ken Hamilton looks back at two fascinating days of presentations and discussion, covering everything from the relationship between geophysics and excavation to the growing role geophysical survey plays in making informed decisions about our historic environment.

It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces, meet new colleagues and hear fresh ideas from across the profession.

Read our full conference roundup here: https://msdsmarine.com/back-after-12-years-why-cags-2026-was-worth-the-wait/

13/07/2026

MSDS Marine work with Historic England to provide diving services to help them manage protected wreck sites as well as identify new sites for protection.

Find out more about our recent site visit to perhaps the most iconic protected wreck site, the Mary Rose!

10/07/2026

Our friends at the Royal Navy Museums are looking for a Lead Rigger. This is a pretty cool job and you’d get to work with some great people on some fabulous historic ships so please do share it with your networks!

We are looking for a Lead Rigger to join our team & play a key role in the ongoing care & maintenance of the wide range of rigs within our collection.