[Dive cache where final/cache box is in a lake?]

It's quite impossible to keep the bearing underwater with enough precision to reach the cache; measuring the distance traveled is very difficult, almost impossible. That unless there is a "trail" underwater that needs to be followed, but even then it's better to provide the surface coordinates, the same way you'll do in a forest.

As a hider, taking a good reading of the final coordinates is essential. Just "estimating" the reading on the compass and the distance traveled is a recipe for disaster. Tried doing that with a buddy, after ~100 meters we were about 30 meters apart, and the cache remained unfound.

 

True, but in this case it is really easy as the description will hopefully tell: you just need to follow the natural slope at 7 to 8m depth and then you'll find it. Even I with my limited UW navigation abilities stumbled upon it when I did not search for it. In addition, there is more help: if you happen to dive too deep you will find an old wooden boat; following the rope attached to it will bring you up to the box.

 

The original non-GC.com description is already this way; that should be reused. Even on another dive I managed to visit the cache without any problems, as the natural formation of this site is really helpful. BTW ... very beautiful dive spot if you like diving in cold water (drysuit advised).

 

As I won't be the cache owner I'm now waiting for the real owner to put his listing into review. I just helped him clearing some question before filing the listing.

 

Of course, this would then be my first GC.com underwater geocache.

[Dive cache where final/cache box is in a lake?]

Thank you very much for your feedback, it was helpful. The box is in 7m depth, not much, but nevertheless the dives will usually be deeper before visiting the cache.

 

The reason for me asking that some German reviewers had issues with the plastic logsheet as they don't deem it persistent enough. But since there are already caches working the way I would like to operate the box, the listing is now on its way. Let's see ...

[Dive cache where final/cache box is in a lake?]

To clarify my situation:

• The box is only for SCUBA divers.
  
• The box is on ground at around -8m. It is big (kind of treasure box) and stays there.
  
• The log stays in the box, you don't take it to the surface for logging.
  
• You cannot quickly ascend, sign the log, then descend: if you don't know what I mean here, you are probably not a certified diver: your ascend will take around five(!) minutes; around two minutes for the ascend and three minutes for the safety stop at -5m ... assuming that you will usually visit the cache on your way back after a deeper dive to visit the rock drop-off zone nearby.
  

So: what kind of logbook or logsheet would be sufficient?

[Dive cache where final/cache box is in a lake?]

Hopefully this is the right subforum here; otherwise I would be glad if you could redirect me to the proper place and persons to contact with my question. Thanks in advance!

 

After talking to the owner of a non-GC.com geocache in a lake I would like to check whether this geocache could be listed with GC.com in the future in order to make geocaching more prominent amongst SCUBA divers. The existing box is in a lake and can be reached by underwater navigation from a well-known point with a given course. So far so good, getting the GPS coordinates for the starting stage is no issue.

 

Now for the (wet) final: according to the rules, each ordinary geocache needs a logsheet. As this is a box in the lake, the logsheet would most probably something similar to a DINA4-sized plastic plate, so divers can log with an appropriate pen. However, this kind of log would be non-permanent. I'm not aware of another, better solution -- if someone has a better one, please come forward!

 

In any case, we still have the full electronic log.

 

The idea here is to really have the final in the water and not on land. This is more demanding and a lot of divers find that to be more interesting than having to later find the box on land after the trouble with getting out of your equipment and going on the hunt.

 

Is there any problem with my aforementioned type of log for review of a possible listing?

 

Thanks for help and insight,

WrongWayGC

[Geocaching.com site update Dec 21st 2010]

is there currently a problem with creating the pocket query for ones own finds? I can click on the button, the form gets reloaded and indicates that the query is scheduled. Yet nothing happens. Reloading the form after some time shows no sign of the scheduled query, the button is still enabled. After ten minutes still no sign of the query. Is this broken?