All Episodes

The terrible tale of the Batavia in 1629 is one of the most incredible stories of shipwreck ever recorded and one of the bloodiest chapters in Australia's history. When bones of victims are unexpectedly uncovered, a mass grave is revealed. Police forensic scientists team up with maritime archaeologists to investigate a murder mystery that is over 400 year old. As more bodies are discovered the story of this horrific event unfolds.Using modern forensic science and cutting edge technology this modern day detective story attempts to solve a mystery of the past and give the victims back their identity.

Beneath the tranquil blue waters of Truk Lagoon lie the remains of one of World WaEp 3 r II's most explosive scenes of ocean warfare. In February 1944, two days of relentless air attacks by American forces devastated the Japanese naval fleet's base on Truk, killing thousands, crippling supply lines and sending over two hundred thousand tonnes of military hardware to the bottom of the Lagoon.

For 60 years, sunken flying boats and aircraft have lain undisturbed in the murky and dangerous waters near Broome, on the remote Western Australian coast. While maritime archaeologist Corioli Souter heads off to investigate the mysterious tale of lost diamonds, in Broome, wartime secrets are given up as one by one the flying boats are discovered.

In the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, Shipwreck Detective Jeremy Green is in pursuit of the wrecks of two ships lost at a critical time of World War II - British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes, and her escort, the Australian destroyer HMAS Vampire. To commemorate the anniversary of the sinking, the expedition has been timed to coincide with the arrival of veterans from both the Hermes and Vampire. The hope is the team can find both ships before the veterans arrive.

Jeremy Green has been invited to help the shipwreck team from the world-leading Institute of Nautical Archaeology on this year's expedition. Despite a glorious past, the INA is in trouble. Unless they find a new shipwreck the future of the Institute hangs in the balance - no shipwreck, no funding. After three weeks of searching with no significant results the team receives an inspiring visit from the pioneer of marine archaeology Professor George Bass, and soon after the team discovers a large ancient wine bowl. There is now only two days remaining to find a significant wreck and the team have one more dive site up their sleeve. Will this wreck site be deemed worthy of excavation?

On a reef in Sri Lanka lies a wreck that has been systematically plundered by treasure hunters. Its identity remains one of the most enduring mysteries of maritime archaeology. Another wreck - the Dolphin - went down carrying twenty-nine chests of silver and has never been found, and In Galle harbour, another important wreck is being excavated, the 17th Avondster; however the tsunami sweeps everything before it. The maritime archeological unit is destroyed, but amid the destruction, the Sri Lankan archaeologists are still able to count their blessings - they have all survived and some valuable artefacts have been recovered.