Released in September 2025 from Dived Up Publications, The Shipwreck Decoder is an exhaustive illustrated reference guide aimed at divers and maritime enthusiasts looking to gain a better understanding of the layout and anatomy of shipwrecks, both ancient and modern. This 208 page A5-format guide book covers all the essential information that you need to gain a better understanding of those piles of scrap metal that we divers find so alluring.

The book opens with a gentle orientation of basic maritime terms like bow, stern, port, starboard and so on. It then builds upon these basics with a look at the core structural components common to many sea-faring vessels - forecastles, gunwale, the keel and, of course, the source of many a snigger, the poop deck. It's all pretty basic stuff but essential groundwork for the more detailed information heading into port once the book begins to drill down deep into the nitty gritty of ship anatomy.

With the basics covered, the book casts off with a detailed look at perhaps that most ubiquitous element of any ship - it's hull. Starting with wooden hulls, the chapter explores common hull shapes, their internal structures, construction and joining methods, structural reinforcements and more. We then move onto the more commonly found metal hulls with a similar approach followed. Particularly fascinating is the coverage of different metal types, the construction methods used over the centuries and how to identify them underwater. Tell-tail signs like the colour of the corrosion 'crust' and the underlying metal, plus the construction methods used (rivets or welds?) really help divers to understand a wreck's age, purpose and country of origin.

Author Ashton East employs a very logical approach to examine each area of a ship's anatomy. Each distinct area is broken down into its own chapter with each following on from the other like a well-planned guided tour. The section covering the hull, for example, is followed by additional chapters that build upon it by examining the bow and then the stern sections. In each chapter, elements unique to those areas are also covered - the bow chapter, for example, includes detailed coverage of anchor types, bow thrusters and mooring points whilst the stern chapter covers propulsion and steering systems. All very logical and easy to follow.