Zap! Play it Safe Around Electricity!

Diesel generators on the treasure-hunting ships pro vide the electricity. To protect divers, all the electrical current is wired through a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) panel at the generator. A GFCI immediately stops the flow of electricity through the cable if there is any problem. This is similar to the wiring in newer homes, where electricity to outlets near kitchen and bathroom sinks, in basements, and

outdoors is wired through GFCIs to protect people from serious shock. From the onboard generators, special cables carry the elec tricity down through the water to the div ers’ equipment. Each cable is insulated

A circuit is the path electricity travels. On treasure hunts or in your kitchen, if the GFCI senses that electricity is leaving the circuit, it quickly cuts power to prevent serious injury.

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Photo Courtesy of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology/Don A. Frey

or 300 years after Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492, traders sailed ships across the oceans to bring gold, silver, jewels, and spices back to Europe. Some of these ships went down in storms or were attacked by pirates, and

by a plastic shield, and inside is a bundle of indi vidually insulated wires. There can be no air inside the cable. This is important because air expands and contracts with the pressure changes of differ ent ocean depths. Expanding air could crack the insulation, which would allow water to leak in and electricity to leak out. If that happened, electricity would shock the divers, fish, and any other living thing nearby.

now lie at the bottom of the dark ocean. To explore these ships and recover their treasures, divers need lights, cameras, and special equipment that all run on electricity. Since water is such a good conductor of electricity, treasure hunt ers must take special precautions to use electricity safely. Here’s how they do it…

10 ZAP!