Naval Shipworm (Teredo navalis)

Shipwrecks are great! They are about the best dive sites that you can dive to. They stir the imagination, provide a dose of history on the side, and most of the time have plenty of amazing stuff to look at as well! And the older the wreck is, the better. The problem with most really old ship wrecks is that most of them have deteriorated and all but disappeared a long time ago. This unfortunate state of affairs is largely caused by the naval shipworm. Because the shipworm eats wood.

Here is an example of shipworm damage. On the left is a frame from the Danish ship Sophia, that sunk in 1645. Notice the damage caused by the shipworm. On the right, a well preserved frame from the Vasa. This photo is taken by myself at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm.