The driving force behind the shipwreck project is Grahame Knott. Grahame has owned and operated several charter boats in the Weymouth area, the most famous being the Wey Chieftain.

After many years locating and diving Channel shipwrecks Grahame has become more and more involved in the research and history behind them. Diving in Grahame's eyes has become a little stale; the same format of a wreck and reef dive on the popular tourist wrecks has not changed over many years. Some divers dive for diving's sake and although there is nothing wrong with that Grahame sees diving as the vehicle to get him where he wants to be namely a wreck and then a whole world beyond diving exists in discovering the wrecks identity, how it got there, who built it, who was on it, are there any survivors or relatives with a story to tell etc. etc.

Beyond this again he sees a necessity to record, document and monitor sites many of which are of historical importance. Grahame has set up the shipwreck project to share his knowledge and experience with others and give them the chance to help undertake essential research before history is lost forever.