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Archaeology Underwater
Twenty six ships have been documented as
being sunk in or near the harbour of Louisbourg between 1713 and 1758. Most
were small merchant or fishing schooners, blown ashore in storms and quickly
destroyed by the pounding surf. However, the siege of 1758 stands out as the
single greatest cause of shipwrecks. Five smaller vessels were deliberatly
skuttled in the harbour entrance to block the English advance. To this
total, a countless number of smaller boats could also be added.
The four largest shipwrecks have been originally located through underwater surveys conducted in 1961 and 1962. The Marine Archaeology Unit of the Canadian Parks Service relocated the wrecks and began more detailed recording during the summers of '86 and '87. This survey was a part of a project to thoroughly document and evaluate the submerged cultural resources of Louisbourg harbour.
Emphasis was on developing management plans to preserve and protect these unique and fragile historical wrecks. The plan does not consider closing the wreck to divers; on the contrary, the diving public is encouraged to visit the various wreck sites through a licensed tour operator. However, diving within the harbour is otherwise prohibited by the Harbour Master, a regulation strickly enforced by the Park Warden Service.
A visit to the Louisbourg wrecks is a very exhilarating and educational experience. Tides and currents are almost non-existant but visibility during the summer months is often poor because of a persistant plankton bloom and frequent periods of fog. Thus, the cold temperatures (6°C) of early spring and late fall offer the best visibility. Two wrecks in particular, the Célèbre and the Prudent, make the trip particularly worthwhile as well as providing the opportunity to visit the largest and most ambitious reconstruction ever undertaken in Canada.
The survey of the submerged cultural resources of Louisbourg Harbour has not been completed. Only known sites have been investigated and large areas of the harbour remain unsurveyed. A primary objective of the work is to enhance marine heritage appreciation and preservation by the visiting divers.
The wrecks of the Célèbre and the Prudent are rare examples of Canada's marine heritage. They have survived today because of the protection they receive in Louisbourg Harbour, where proper management will ensure their existance for all to view in wonder.