Relic hunting or treasure hunting

L

Larry Patrick

New member
Used to scuba dive 25yrs ago. Just got recertified 2yrs ago. Thinking of when we start traveling with boat and camper,may purchase an underwater metal detector. Just to see what may have been dropped overboard in different waterways. Certainly not to make a profit, just as a hobby .Years ago found old bottles and different things groping around the bottom of lakes. I think Florida has rules on it ,but will need to learn the rules for what areas I will be in. I remember reading Flag Gold that had a C-Dory would find dinasour shark teeth somewhere. Plan to go for scallops ,shrimp,crab ,clams ect so while doing these things will tinker around trying to find old stuff,anyone else have this type of hobby? Guess im day dreaming of things now that boat is winterized and wont be on it till spring.
 
Larry: Years ago I tagged along on a fishing trip off Clearwater Beach, Fl. While the guys fished, I slipped over the side to explore the artificial reef. The reef was made from thousands of tires tied together with cables. Once under water, I thought that I was in a West coast kelp bed as I saw stalks of weed rising from the reef to the surface. Turns out they were encrusted anchor ropes with anchors attached. Anchors hooked in the tires, rope retrieved as far as possible, and cut off. I slipped a dozen good ones in the boat. I still have a few of them in my garage from that trip. You never know what you will run into down there.
 
Nice find on the anchors, Mike thanks for sharing video,alot of great finds in a few hours. That fanning the bottom technique works well. Any suggestions on which underwater detector? Thanks , that helps make my mind up ,will be searching the bottom next season,should be fun.
 
I sense some great adventure tales to come. You should keep a journal. Have fun and be safe.

My wife will love the anchors story. She is a treasure/bargain hunter to the max!
 
That darn ole Flag Gold has gotten me into so much trouble...bought a gold detector...didn't find gold... made a Hobo jet stove... wife laughed... bought an underwater metal detector... it's a whole lot harder finding stuff than it looks...does work if you look hard enough..

I have been certified since 1970 and diving for years before that... I spend lots of time underwater and still have not found that gold coin or rare valuable item... just rusty ole junk.. it is fun... someday I would like to actually meet ole Flag Gold... he makes me laugh..

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Ya don't need a metal detector to find anchors...

Before I would buy one for diving...I would buy a underwater scooter... I have a Dacor scooter...works neat, about an hour one each charge...and I have a spare battery so I am good for at least 2 tanks... now that is fun and you will cover much more bottom and find lots more junk... make sure you buy one with a BC as once the battery goes dead they are a pain to swim back to the boat... just send it to the top...or better yet...plan your dive...up current

Joel
SEA3PO
 
That ROV is cool. Have watched a lot of Flag Gold videos ,good stuff. Now planning on looking for used scuba gear. Owned everything 20 yrs ago,but sold it. I keep a journal for truck camping and boating trips,so will add these adventures to it. In my twenties we did a trip to sheepshead bay NY. Dive was on sunken lighthouse ship. Dive instructor in lead with big light,bottom time if I remember was around 20 minutes from descent to be back on surface with no hang time decompression. It was 100ft deep,I learned a lesson that day,I like shallow dives a lot better.Very Rough water just to make it from stern to anchor line. When the three of us landed on hull of sunken ship,one guy wanted to look at my depth gage. In the time it took for him to look with his tiny light,our instructor lost us. Listening to every breath I took from regulator and realizing if anything went wrong this guy better buddy breathe, gave the lets go up signal. Slow ascent ,finally saw some sunlight in 60 or 50 ft of water. Second dive was for lobsters in 30 ft of water,way more enjoyable,never dove deep again. Another hobby I want to try is spearfishing,hope to fit that in someday,never did it yet.
 
Back
Top