This section brings together everything visual: 3D models, video, and photo galleries.
It exists to show what the sites actually look like, not just list their names and
coordinates. The goal is to let divers, researchers and non-divers all see the shape
of the wrecks and structures that Shotline documents.
The 3D models are built from real dives and survey work, using still photographs and
video frames to reconstruct the wreck in three dimensions. Video and galleries provide
context around those models: conditions, approaches, details and the surrounding lake
bottom. Think of this area as the “visual appendix” to the written and charted record.
Use the links below to move between the 3D models, the internal video directory, and
the external channels and archives that host Shotline material and partner work.
3D Models Overview
The 3D side of Shotline Diving is built around photogrammetry and structured image
capture. Multiple passes are made over a wreck or site, with overlapping photographs
and video frames later processed into a point cloud and mesh. Texture maps are then
generated from the original imagery to preserve as much detail as possible: planking,
plating, damage and biological growth.
These models are not “artist impressions”; they represent what was actually recorded on
a given date, with the limitations of visibility and access clearly noted. In many
cases they also show moorings, lines and surrounding debris, which helps divers
understand orientation and approach before they ever get on a boat.
Methods & Workflow
Capture is typically carried out by divers swimming controlled tracks around the site,
maintaining overlap and distance as conditions allow. On some projects, video is
recorded in parallel to provide continuous context. The resulting image sets are
processed using standard photogrammetry software to generate the underlying geometry.
Once a model is produced, it is checked against known dimensions, historic plans and
diver observations. Where there are gaps or distortions, these are left visible rather
than “fixed” so that users can see where the data is strong and where it thins out.
In that sense, a good model behaves a bit like a chart – accurate in the areas
surveyed, honest about the places that still need more passes.
Over time, some sites may receive multiple models as conditions improve, new technology
is used or additional survey effort is put in. These versions document the changing
state of the wreck as well as the evolution of the recording methods.
Credits & Hosting
3D models are created and shared with the support of collaborating divers, project
teams and hosting platforms. Credit for individual models is listed on the model page
itself and in associated documentation.
- Primary public hosting for models:
3DShipwrecks.org - Additional models and media under the
Shotline Diving 3D collection - Project partners and individual contributors are noted on each model and in the
associated wreck or site record.
Video & Media Directories
The 3D work sits alongside a growing library of video and historical footage. Modern
clips show how the wrecks look under current conditions; older material captures earlier
stages of collapse, different mooring arrangements and the way divers have interacted
with these sites over time.
The links below act as the main media hub: one internal directory for organising the
material, and several external channels and archives that actually host the files.
Shotline Video Directory
The internal index for Shotline video content: organised by wreck, region and project.
Use this directory when you want to find a specific clip, compare multiple dives on the
same site, or see which wrecks currently have supporting video.
Shotline Diving – YouTube Channel
Public-facing videos, including site overviews, selected dives and project updates.
This is the best entry point for general viewers who want to see what the wrecks look
like without diving into the full archive structure.
Dan Gildea’s Video Archive – SLD US Side
A partner archive focusing on the US side of the shared waters. Features project and
site-specific footage that complements the Canadian records, particularly in the
Seaway and American-side wreck projects.
Spike’s Video Archive – Historical
Historical footage and legacy clips: earlier cameras, older gear and past conditions.
These videos are as much about documenting how diving and recording have changed as
they are about the sites themselves, capturing a time slice of both wreck and diver.