By examining bathymetric maps of the sea floor, combined with historic and modern charts and data on characteristics of the bottom type (reef, pavement, etc.), patterns can be detected, and models created to predict where other sites may exist.

The benthic map shows sea-bed attributes most commonly associated with shipwrecks.

The reclassified benthic map shows areas in red are most likely to have shipwrecks. The bathymetric map is based on sea depth.

The two classified maps are combined to create a predictive map. The benthic map has a greater influence (70%) on the overlay; the bathymetric map has less (30%), reflecting the greater importance of sea-bed type over sea depth in the location of existing shipwrecks.