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| Charles Beeker |
Dr.
Charles Beeker, Director of the Academic Diving Program and Underwater Science
Program in the Department of Kinesiology, has been a dedicated diver and
underwater researcher for over 40 years.
When Beeker began diving in the early 1960’s the historic shipwrecks he
explored and their artifacts were there for the taking. When legislation passed
in the late 1980’s categorized ownership of such sites to the government,
treasure hunters who had made a living in the states moved south to the
Caribbean where fewer restrictions were in place.
Dedicated to preserving
the history of underwater shipwrecks and artifacts, Beeker has been a leader in
the development of underwater museums over the past 20 years. His involvement
began in 1989 when he played a key role in establishing the San Pedro
Underwater Archaeological Preserve State Park in the Florida Keys, but he’s
since shifted his focus to encouraging Caribbean countries where treasure
hunting has become more popular to follow suit. While typically shipwrecks are
valued for their historical significance and have been raised with the intent
of display in local museums, Beeker believes in preserving the history where it
is found. Such Living Museums are designed to allow snorkelers and divers to
not only view the wrecks and artifacts, but to understand their historical
significance within their current environment.
In December of 2012,
Beeker conducted an underwater field school in the Dominican Republic, educating
SPH students to the importance of preserving the shipwrecks and artifacts.
Exploring an area of the coast of a small beach known as La Caleta, Beeker led
the students in excavating an area near a site believed to be from the Nuestra
Sedonia Begoñ, a Spanish ship that was enroute to Venezuela at the time of its sinking.
In addition to gaining technical skills related to recovering and preserving
artifacts, students walked away with a better understanding of how local
communities, culture, and government are all intertwined in the conservation of
such historical sites.
While combatting the treasure
hunters is a never-ending battle for Beeker, he’s ensuring that another
generation of professionals will be ready to continue to fight to preserve
history both domestically and abroad in the future.
