Archaeology is concerned with the excavation, surveying and protection of historical artefacts, both on land and under the sea. The findings provide an important key to our understanding of shipbuilding traditions, trade and life in the past, and political and military confrontations.

Denoting it as a highland is a bit of an embellishment, causing some Scandinavian brethren in Norway and Sweden, who have real mountains in their outback, to scoff. Afterall, the highest “peaks” are only about 150m above sea level. However, in Denmark, which is otherwise largely flat and predominately farmland, it stands out—and for good reason. It is picturesque!

Generously scattered among rolling hills, which are draped in forest or heath, are plenty of freshwater lakes and they are among the cleanest and clearest in the country.  

As one of my good friends and diving partners usually says: We are lucky with a lot of things living here in Denmark, but if you like cycling in the mountains, skiing or diving in warm waters... then you are not super well-placed as a Dane. I myself usually see my dives in Denmark as training, understood in terms that if you can complete a wreck dive in Øresund and come up with a useful picture or two and a big smile on your face, then you are as well prepared as you can be to dive the rest of the world.

I have known this company since its inception. JJ-CCR is founded and headed by Jan Petersen, whose expertise is in machining, but it was another Jan, surname Jørgensen, who certified me on the Inspiration Classic, a little over 20 years ago. Around that time, Jørgensen also happened to certify Petersen, and the two Jans—hence the name “JJ”—got into a fruitful discussion about designing and building a new rebreather, which led to the development of the first prototype in 2005.