An underwater archaeology workshop could be the key to saving a famous shipwreck from getting pummelled to pieces.

A new citizen science project – led by maritime archaeologist and conservator Dr Andy Viduka​ – is seeking divers interested in history to explore the HMS Buffalo in a free two-day workshop.

Pieces of wreckage from HMS Buffalo, a ship wrecked just off the beach at Whitianga in 1840, are washing up after recent storms. Video: Kelly Hodel/Stuff.

The HMS Buffalo has been sitting just 50 metres out from Buffalo Beach in Whitianga for the last 181 years, but in the last year has begun losing significant pieces of timbre with every major storm.

Fearful it may be starting to disintegrate without urgent protection, Mercury Bay Museum manager Rebecca Cox​ hopes this workshop will lead to further funding opportunities to preserve and monitor the old relic.

The museum is asking people to keep an eye peeled for pieces of wreckage from HMS Buffalo, a wreck just off the beach at Whitianga in 1840. Photo: Stuff.

'We are a bit worried about the state of the Buffalo,” says Cox.

'We've had more pieces come in, but we haven't been able to look at the site for several months.”

The cargo ship used to be cushioned in a blanket of sand, buffering it from storms, but a survey two years ago showed that its layer of protection has now gone.

In July last year six pieces of timber, believed to be from the vessel, were found by locals walking along the beach after stormy weather has washed them in.

The shipwreck is a protected archaeological site and removal of items is illegal.

While it's not uncommon for locals to find pieces of Buffalo wreckage, Cox says this was the first time framing timber has been discovered on the beach.

Since then six more have washed up – one three-metres in size.

So far three have been identified as 'significant enough to go through the proper channels of preservation”, but no-one has 'put their hand up” to help the museum pay for the costs involved in this process, says Cox.

'It's very disappointing, but we've managed to make do by pulling them up out of the tank ourselves and sitting them on pallets to air dry.”

'We would have liked to have been able to put anti-corrosion chemicals over them, but we are hoping they will be fine. Teak is quite strong.”

Each piece will take around two years to completely dry.

And while they wait, Cox hopes through the workshop they can find a regular diver to have on call for regular explorations.

Gathering Information via Recreational and Technical (GIRT) founder Dr Andy Viduka says the workshop will empower people in Whitianga with the skills to become the kaitiaki of their own historical sites.

Many HMS Buffalo ship wreck pieces have been dropped off to Mercury Bay Museum over the years to be assessed and verified. Photo: Kelly Hodel/Stuff.

'This workshop is designed to empower the community with the tools to monitor their own heritage regularly in a world of climate change where temperature and bigger storm events are happening more frequently,” says Viduka.

Funded by Heritage NZ, local divers will learn how to correctly analyse an underwater cultural heritage site without impacting it and how to correctly document observable physical and natural features.

They will also be encouraged to become a member of Gathering Information via Recreational and Technical.

This could lead to the wreck being monitored more regularly by local divers.

From there the research will then be shared publicly with the relevant agencies who can decide if there's a need to undertake further work, such as research archaeology, reburial or excavation.

The Whitianga workshop will take place on February 18-19.

- Stuff.co.nz/Sharnae Hope.