David Mearns OAM is one of the World’s most experienced and successful deep-sea shipwreck hunters. Over his 25-year career he has led the research and discovery of 21 major shipwrecks achieving an overall success rate of 88% (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.
David was inducted into the Weehawken High School Academic of Fame in 2003. In October 2011 he received the University of South Florida’s Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of his career achievements and service to the University. This award is chosen annually from over 250,000 past graduates of USF.
David is a Chartered Marine Scientist and fellow of the Marine Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology, the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers Club. He has carried the prestigious Explorers Club Flag on 8 separate at-sea expeditions, authored two books and dozens of articles and is regularly featured in documentaries made for television.
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
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