Ian Cundy has a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Queen Mary College London, and a M.A. in Maritime Archaeology from University College London, where he specialised in Geographic Infomation Systems and Education in Archaeology.

Ian has worked as a mechanical engineer in the oil and mineral processing industry both in the United Kingdom, Canada, Jordan and East Germany, in addition to spending two years working in the copper mines of Zambia.  For 30 years Ian has run his own boat building company, based in  Worcestershire, England, specialising in designing and building boats for disabled people.

Ian has been diving since 1995, and in the interim period has been involved in numerous maritime archaeological projects, both in England, Wales Croatia and Israel.  In 1997 Ian co-founded the Malvern Archaeological Diving Unit (MADU), and under this banner he has held various licences from both English Heritage and Cadw (the Welsh Assembly Government’s Heritage Agency), to work on  sites that are designated under the United Kingdom’s  Protection of Wrecks Act (1973).  The sites in question being, the Iona II, a paddle steamer lost off of Lundy Island in 1864 on its way to assist with blockade running during the American Civil War, and the Diamond, an unknown merchant sailing vessel, thought to be of North American origin that was lost in the middle of the 19th century, in Cardigan Bay, West Wales.

Ian’s involvement with the Nautical Archaeology Society (UK) began in 1996.  He is currently a Senior Tutor running courses, providing talks and presentations on their behalf, and is the NAS regional co-ordinator for Wales.  In 2004 Ian was awarded the Sub Aqua Association’s “George Arnold Trophy” for contributions to maritime archaeology, and in 2011 was awarded a NAS Part IV Diploma in Foreshore and Underwater Archaeology.

For more information on NAS Training in Wales, please contact Ian at: www.madu.org.uk