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David Mearns OAM is one of the World’s most experienced and successful deep-sea shipwreck hunters. Over his 24-year career he has led the research and discovery of 22 major shipwrecks achieving an overall success rate of 85% (partial listing below). In both shallow and deep water David and BWR have set new standards for the location of lost ships, proving that anything lost at sea – no matter how old or how deep – can be found.

In October 2010 David was awarded a prestigious Maritime Fellowship Award by the UK-based Maritime Foundation for an outstanding lifetime contribution in a particular maritime field.  In November of the same year David was awarded an honorary Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to Australia by locating and filming the wrecks of HMAS Sydney II and AHS Centaur.

AHS Centaur – a Hospital Ship illegally sunk by a Japanese submarine

HMAS Sydney – the greatest maritime mystery in Australian history

Kormoran – a German raider scuttled after defeating HMAS Sydney

HMS Hood - flagship of the Royal Navy sunk by the Bismarck

Esmeralda – a Portuguese Nau from the 1503 fleet of Vasco da Gama

Rio Grande – the deepest shipwreck ever found at 5,762 metres

Derbyshire – the largest shipping loss in British maritime history

Lucona – a cargo ship sunk by a time bomb that murdered its crew