Nuttlar Slate Mine

Diver explores the Nuttlar slate mine in Bestwig, Germany
Diver explores the Nuttlar slate mine in Bestwig, Germany.

Nestled in the mountainous area of Bestwig in western Germany is the Nuttlar slate mine, which offers divers an intriguing opportunity to step into the past. Kurt Storms gives us a glimpse of the underwater passages in the mine.

Portfolio: Alan Williams

Polypus, by Alan Williams
Polypus, 130cm wide, by Alan Williams. Made from 90% motorbike parts, 10% threaded bar and found objects.

Alan Williams, a British artist based in Brighton, creates astounding and intricate sculptures of marine life from found and upcycled metal objects. X-Ray Mag interviewed the artist to learn more about his creative process and perspectives.

A diver applying a protective marking solution at the Klein Hollandia wreck site.
A diver applying a protective marking solution at the Klein Hollandia wreck site.

Using innovative forensic markers to safeguard maritime artefacts

English shipwrecks, submerged for centuries off the coast, hold the secrets of history in the form of artefacts like cannons. However, organised looting poses a significant threat.

To counter this, Historic England and British specialist contractor MSDS Marine have embarked on a ground-breaking project involving underwater forensic tagging technology. This technology, developed over eight years, traces its roots to methods used to protect heritage assets on land. It is applied directly to the marine artefacts and wrecks by divers, and had been trialled on dives this summer.