Writing to the governor of Florida in September of 1964, the president of the Florida Keys Underwater Guides Association expressed concern about proposed salvage operations on the shipwrecks of the Spanish fleet of 1733. The Guides went on record to ask the governor for help "to preserve these historical wrecks for the present and future enjoyment of the public. " Subsequently, a similar request was sent to the governor by the Florida Upper Keys Chamber of Commerce, which wrote that "we feel strongly that the historic interest and attractions for our growing influx of skindivers produced by these wrecks is much more valuable to the State of Florida than the 25% share gained from salvage of these old wrecks and their treasures. " Shortly thereafter, the Monroe County Advertising Commission wrote the governor that "the historic wrecks off our coasts are a part of our heritage to be enjoyed and seen and not to be despoiled. [Aside from] the discovery of occasional "pieces of eight" and/orartifacts by individuals or the hope of such discoveries, the underwater beauty of a wreck housing hundreds of fish or a mound of cannon balls is directly beneficial to our economy while concerted salvage operations would destroy permanently the lure of these wrecks. " But the notion that these underwater sites would best serve the public as historical and environmental attractions rather than to be picked apart under state supervision for personal trophies was an idea way ahead of its time.

"James Spirek and Della Scott-Ireton have compiled and edited what is to my knowledge the first published source describing the scope and breadth of today's underwater heritage trails and preserves. Each chapter reflects both the strengths and weaknesses of various strategies that have been attempted for the public interpretation and preservation of historic sites in aquatic environments. Not only will this book serve to document the progress of those strategies, but it will offer new directions for cultural resource management on future frontiers."
(Roger C. Smith, from the Foreword)

Inhalt
I: Theory and Concept.- 1. Underwater Parks Versus Preserves: Data or Access.- 2. The Maritime Cultural Landscape of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve.- 3. A Review of Cultural Resource Management Experiences in Presenting Canada's Submerged Heritage.- II: Preserves and Parks.- 4. Historic Shipwreck Preserves in Maryland.- 5. From National Tragedy to Cultural Treasure: The USS Huron Historic Shipwreck Preserve.- 6. The Visitor Schemes on the Historic Shipwrecks of the Swan and HMS Dartmouth, Sound of Mull, Scotland (UK).- 7. Lake Champlain's Underwater Historic Preserve Program: Reasonable Access to Appropriate Sites.- 8. Florida's Underwater Archaeological Preserves.- 9. Beneath Pictured Rocks.- III: Trails.- 10. Shipwreck Trails: Public Ownership of a Unique Resource?.- 11. Maritime Heritage Trails in Australia: An Overview and Critique of the Interpretive Programs.- 12. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Shipwreck Trail: A Model for Multiple-Use Resource Management.- 13.Maritime Heritage on Display: Underwater Examples from South Carolina.- Conclusion.- Appendix A.