Alexander Belov

29 February 1972, Russia

Has worked with Franck Goddio since 1999.

Alex received a degree in Oceanology from Moscow University. He then worked at the Institute of Oceanology in Moscow, studying mathematical models for waves and currents. He decided this work was too boring for him… and in 1997 he visited the “Vasa” shipwreck museum in Stockholm, and there began his interest in underwater archaeology. He is now studying Greco-Roman history at the Center for Egyptology Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In June of 2001, he will be going to the North coast of the Black Sea with a group from the Center of Egyptology Studies, looking for Greek settlements that have submerged and shipwrecks.

Alex’s favorite discovery was when he found the first head of a sphinx on the project in 1999. He was diving, following the baseline as the visibility was so poor… found a “rock”, and began cleaning it… the head of the sphinx emerged from this concretion! “It was very exciting!”