Underwater archeological photoreconnaissance using a remotely piloted vehicle

The advantages of remotely piloted underwater vehicles for photoreconnaissance of submerged archeological remains are demonstrated by a description of the use of one vehicle, the Benthos RPV-430, during the photo documentation of three significant historic shipwrecks. Details of the equipment, the methods of deployment, the problems which arose and how they were solved and the types and functions of support vessels are given. Illustrations of photographic results also are presented.