Maritime Archaeology

ISRT Maritime archaeologists are experienced in deep archaeological excavations, operating in complex environments in 100+meters following UNESCO protocols.

  • Darko Kovačević (Montenegro)

    Senior Leading Maritime Archeologist

    Darko Kovačević is a maritime archaeologist with a rich background in digital documentation, remote sensing, GIS, geomatics, and underwater excavations.He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in History from the University of Novi Sad, Serbia and Master`s degree in Maritime and Underwater Archaeology from the University of Alexandria, Egypt. He specializes in Geomatics and is a SCUBA diving instructor and technical diver.

    Darko has contributed to numerous research projects across the Mediterranean. As a grant recipient from the Honor Frost Foundation, he studied early medieval ship construction in Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, and Egypt. He participated in excavations and surveys near Alexandria’s ancient harbour as a member of the Hellenic Institute for Alexandrian Studies. He excavated a Mycenaean wreck in Poros, Greece and took part in the discovery and documentation of ancient shipwrecks near the island of Fourni, Greece. In Croatia, he excavated Roman and modern-era shipwrecks.

    In Malta, he participated in developing the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit within the Heritage Malta agency and implementing an innovative system for managing underwater cultural heritage. He participated in the remote sensing surveys, the Liberator B24 recovery project, and the Phoenician shipwreck project. He taught Geographic Information Systems for maritime archaeology at the University of Malta.

    Through the development and management of EU-funded projects, at the University of Montenegro, he established the Laboratory for Maritime Archaeology, the first research unit specializing in underwater research. This lab aims to map and digitally document submerged heritage sites, making them accessible through cutting-edge digital solutions.

    As the lead archaeologist for the International Search and Recovery Team, Darko is devoted to contributing his expertise to the organization.

  • Silvia Recuero Herreros (ES)

    Maritime Archaeologist. ISRT deep subsea operations.

    Silvia is specialized in subaquatic and forensic archaeology. Due to the large number of remains submerged at great depths and in complex environments, she became trained in deco and deep diving techniques, as well as cave diving. She has worked in multiple international archaeological operations both terrestrial and underwater.

  • Rodrigo Ortiz-Vázquez (UK)

    Maritime Archaeologist ISRT

    Rodrigo has led several 3D visualisation workshops, open days and training courses for both the private and academic sectors for the Nautical Archaeology Society, Bournemouth University, MSDS Marine, University of Southampton, American University of Beirut, Cardiff University, University of Tripoli, HE, INAH, UNAM and the MarEA project.

    He has taught in several UG and PG modules as a guest lecturer since 2014, actively teaching GIS, underwater survey techniques, marine geophysics, and site formation processes in Applied Maritime Archaeology, Marine Geo-archaeology, Data Visualisation in Archaeology Professional Placement and Scientific Diving training in the Maritime Archaeology programme of the University of Southampton.

    Rodrigo has extensive experience as a diving instructor/guide, since 2008 working in sports, commercial, scientific, media, defence and technical diving. He also has experience working as a safety and camera operator for films, advertisements, documentaries and science. Collaborating extensively in the past decade with archaeological projects and film crews as a safety diver and camera operator for both topside and underwater filming.