+Cabellero42 Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 My friend and I are planning to do an underwater scuba accessible only cache. Since the terrain will be at least a 5 and who knows about the difficulty, we want to stock the cache with some great items to find / trade. This cache will be a saltwater / underwater cache located in So. California’s Pacific Ocean. We need ideas for the contents of the cache as well as ways to tether items to the cache so they don’t float away. Since this cache will be underwater and continuously exposed to the elements were are looking for items that meet the following characteristics: Will not cause any harm to marine life Will not endanger a swimmer / diver Will withstand the exposure to water for a long period of time Must not be corrosive Should be neutral and or negatively buoyant (should not float) Should not contain any sharp edges (necessary to retrieve and put into a BCD or goody bag with out damage of puncture or tear.) Should not be larger than a brick. Should weigh < 3lbs Any recommendations / suggestions are greatly appreciated. THX! Quote Link to comment
+Isonzo Karst Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 (edited) I often leave matchsafes in caches (they make good micros - they also make good matchsafes). If you opened them so that they filled with water they would be fairly neutral, and meet all your other requirements. They cost about $1, so they're not exactly primo swag, but they're okay swag. Geocoins at about $6 (USA and other) would also meet your requirements and definitely be great items to find. Though I'm not sure about the metals and salt water immersion. Edited January 7, 2006 by Isonzo Karst Quote Link to comment
+Miragee Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 Here is an underwater, scuba cache that has an interesting history . . . One first-finder mentions a tank light. Maybe the place to shop for swag would be at a dive shop. Quote Link to comment
+Team Flashncache Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 I don't live anywhere NEAR the coast, (actually, either one..) but I feel the need to point out a couple of things: First and foremost, seawater is very corrosive. Yeah, yeah - I'm not telling you anything you don't know already. But you're talking about tethering things to the cache. Which means to me; that they're not going to be IN the cache, so they would be out in the corrosive element, so to speak. Is that a good idea? Is that really what you have in mind? If so, then I will step off and let you go with it. Quote Link to comment
+Dew Crew Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 Heres a thread of mine that lists some Underwater Geocaches. Maybe they can give you a few ideas. Quote Link to comment
+CharlieP Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 I understand that gold coins resist corrosion even in salt water. Quote Link to comment
+Ocean Archer Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 Very true Charlie, but if someone filled a cache with them, could you behave yourself, or would it be like Lays potato chips (you wouldn't take just one)? Obviously, items that are less susceptable to corrosion would be high on the list, but if the cache could be reliably made watertight, then other items could be included ... Quote Link to comment
+Isonzo Karst Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 If the cache is watertight, then it has to be brought to the surface to open. Then it needs to be in shallow (less than 30ft) of water, or the diver's dive profile gets real funky. Down, up, down up. A good way to get bent. From the OPs question, he's thinking access the cache at the bottom (or at the cache level underwater) which is the right way for diver safety. Obviously gold coins are the perfect solution. Quote Link to comment
+Cabellero42 Posted January 8, 2006 Author Share Posted January 8, 2006 (edited) We have started to build the cache container. This is 4” ABS with an end cap on one side and a threaded end cap on the other. The tube is approx. 12” long with about 5”s of concrete in the caped end. The threaded cap is tethered to the main tube with 60lb fishing line and a swivel to allow the cap to rotate freely. There is also a shackle ring mounted to the end cap which will be used for tethering to a concrete block. Once all the concrete is dried I’ll get some pictures posted. The cache will not be water tight and accessible only underwater. This is for the safety of the divers so they don’t have a bounce profile and end up getting bent. The depth should be between 35 & 45ft. We plan on using a diving float and lift bag to get the cache down to its new home. We estimate the concrete block we are making will weigh between 50-60lbs with an eyelet on the end of the block. If anyone is willing to donate some gold coins I’ll make sure that they get placed in the cache. So far some of the ideas for the contents of the cache are the following: Gold Coins Matchsafes Gold jewelry Plastic gift cards Plastic Calling cards Travel Bugs (not sure how corrosive they are) GeoCoins (not sure how corrosive they are) Diving related gear (Dive lights, glow sticks, air cards, oring kits, etc) We are still working out the logistics for the various waypoints to the cache and the heading’s required for underwater navigation using only a compass. For those divers out there do you trust your kick cycle estimates in order to determine distance underwater or do you prefer the line / grid approach? Edited January 8, 2006 by Cabellero42 Quote Link to comment
+Cabellero42 Posted January 8, 2006 Author Share Posted January 8, 2006 (edited) Here are some pics of the cache container and weight. We are still not sure what we will use as camouflage if any due to the impact paint, etc.. can have on the underwater environment. Hopefully over time the marine life will turn the container / block into a home. Cache Container Edited January 8, 2006 by Cabellero42 Quote Link to comment
+Team Flashncache Posted January 8, 2006 Share Posted January 8, 2006 Looks really nice. You've obviously put a lot of thought and work into your cache. Good luck with the gold coins! Seriously; good work! Quote Link to comment
+Cabellero42 Posted January 10, 2006 Author Share Posted January 10, 2006 Here are some ideas for the diving related gear / swag, what do you think? Diving Related Gear: Air Cards Abalone bar Aluminum Lobster Gauge Key chain scuba tank Mini Scuba Tank o-ring kit Soft Brass o-ring tools Tank Valve Covers DIN / Yoke BCD Fin holder Hose clips Hose protectors Tank Bangers Goody bag / mesh drawstring bags Mini dry box Fish ID card Underwater notebook Compass Mask strap cover Swivel / carabineer MISC BCD clips / accessories Whistle Mask straps Fin straps Snorkel keeper Chem sticks / lights Weight belt clips Ankle weights Soft belt / BCD weights Tank Pressure Checker Quote Link to comment
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