GAD8 is a designated Protected Wreck Site lying off the East Kent coast near Deal. It contains the scattered remains of an armed wooden sailing vessel dating from roughly 1650 to 1750, a period for which very few shipwrecks survive. The site includes multiple cast iron cannon, a large mound of concreted shot thought to represent a ship’s shot locker and exposed ship timbers that hint at more structure buried below the seabed. Its exact identity is still unknown, although historic research has linked it to losses in the Downs, including the Royal Navy’s HMS Carlisle.
In July 2022 a team of BSAC volunteer divers carried out the first structured survey of GAD8 since its designation. The British Sub-Aqua Jubilee Trust funded the project, which brought together divers from several clubs. The core team came from Southsea Sub-Aqua Club and Mary Rose Sub-Aqua Club, with additional support from members of the East Kent Sub-Aqua Club and divers from TrenDive. This collaboration allowed a broad mix of archaeological, biological and diving expertise to be applied on site.
Over four days the team completed 24 dives, spending more than 1400 minutes underwater. They recorded eight cannons, a concretion mound, exposed timbers and surrounding seabed features. They also undertook biological observations, metal detector surveys and extended area searches. More than 4300 photographs and extensive video footage were gathered, providing the foundation for a Level 3a archaeological record and the most complete site plan to date. Pottery and glass sherds consistent with seventeenth and eighteenth century material were identified, reinforcing the likely date of the wreck.
Although the evidence suggests a heavily armed vessel from the late seventeenth century, the site remains unidentified. The project has created a solid baseline for future archaeological work, including timber sampling, full cannon recording, systematic metal detecting and refined photogrammetry. It has also helped develop a skilled cohort of BSAC divers who can continue the long-term stewardship of this important protected wreck.