EASY QUESTION FOR YOU DIVERS???

[Rich]

Ok ,i Th/Md etc etc,
But always facinated with diving,now living in upstate ny gives only afew GOOD places to hit,but if its a public pond/lake/river which US the TAX Payers pay for do we have a right to dive?.....

also i know that i need certifcation for NYS diving,and the cost "alot to me",and then add the equipment for a starting diver "800+,ive been told",but can any of ya wreck divers help out on my questions?.....
Also how accurate is "THAT WEB SITE FOR WRECK SITES-not sayin the name but it starts with a -N-

Also one more - any divers have good luck on public rivers/ponds/lakes for bottles?.........if so were they sticking out of the mud/sand,please let a person interested in diving know what i need before i head into this full time hobby......especially any UPSTATE NY'er!!!! - hudson river.......all i need to say...

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[rgecy]

Rich,
Getting started in diving can be fairly expensive. I recommend you get in touch with a certified diver or trainer in your area who can talk to you about your options on equipment. It is very important to understand what your options are and what type of diving you will be doing. $1000 is a realistic budget for a basic setup for up north but it certainly can go higher. Aside from basic scuba gear, you also need thermal protection from the cold environment. The best advice is find someone who dives in the area you live and get advice. Don't be impulsive and buy the first thing that looks good. Do your homework and understand the differences in equipment.

As for diving in the rivers, here in SC we find lots of great bottles and artifacts. The 3 gal crock in my avatar was pulled out of a local river here. As the story was told to me, there was a still on nearby island and the loacl sherrif came in and busted up the still and dumped all the moonshine jugs into the river. For years divers have been pulling them up and many of the older (oldtimers) told me it was all gone. In 2 dives I found this and 4 bottles that dated back to 1840. Depending on the conditions, bottles can be sitting on top or burried just under the sand. I carry a screwdriver or knife and use it to probe into the sand. When you hit glass you will know it.

What is strange is you will find 150 year old bottles sitting on top of the bottom right next to 30 year old pepsi and coke bottles.

As for your local laws governing public rivers and ponds, I would certainly seek a local diver who can answer your questions.

Good luck and let us know how your training goes.

Robert in SC

 

[Cablava]

I do not know about the laws in your area, but diving in rivers, lakes and ponds require a certain knowledge of how these work. There are many sluice gates, culverts, drains, etc which often are not seen. be wary of these things they can be dangerous. Use your common sense with such areas. Be safe!!

As for sites look for areas where old fairs were held or old riverside properties. Check your local history for events that happened on the river, bridges often have some good finds, (the firearms around bridges are usually more modern but you may get lucky) . Once again research will give you better results than just jumping in the river. Old newspapers, library or even some old timer who lives in the area..

Have fun researching and learning to dive now, and when the weather warms up enjoy your treasure hunting. collect everything you are unsure of and then find out what it is. Do not discard anything until you have done this, in a short time you will have quite a collection.


Good luck

 

[99*]

go for it, use the longer screw drivers - grind the point off - no need to break bottles when probing, listen to Cablava and RGecy I envy that find of his, dont let money deter you there are too many bottles and goodies in need of finding. I know of stories of guys getting sucked against dam walls, so check out your spots also I have dived areas only to have a supply ship anchor over me, you shi..... yourself when that happens, good luck and for refernences you should find old thick broken glass on the shorelines or around where you think there are sites, old docks are good very good. Again happy Hunting 99*

 

[Capt. Buzzkill]

All good advice above...

...I'd rather dive with sharks then dive a river with any current. At least you can see, most of the time, the first threat. The latter...a log smacked my dive buddy in a murky river on a project. Luckily it just killed the his diving for the day...instead of him. Stick to lakes or the deep blue sea, brother.

CB

 

[99*]

Some extra help, get a decent rope reel , around 40 -60 bucks with minimal of 250 feet line, in zero vis I use these as then I can get my way back to my boat without popping up under a cruise ship, also I carry a spare so when I find something good I can leave one tied off to the area, remember if you find a plate for example then leave your reel tied off there and you can return with more air to search again...often they threw plates overboard so as not to wash up!
I also leave the screwdriver in the mud on the mark and tie off to it, depends on the texture of the mud, be careful not to drag the mark around. Some days in a special harbour you can set up with twin 80`s and stay down for hours this is good when Custom officials dont like you diving there , so get a compass point swim down an anchor and swim into the harbour, its an easy way to get access to the undived sites which teem with bottles. Good luck 99*

 

[Rich]

THX to all fr the great info!.... :P

I see that it is quite a adventure in itself to get the funds for certi and equipment.....,
Also since im sort of a book reader and cartographer "id take a Gov job if there was a position open...lol",but good points about logs and where to look,all of which i have already thought of,and especialy the drag line for me to attach to my belt "i would have 2 due to some places" but the rivers up here are nothing like what i have herd about the Missisippi river "current is way to strong aswell as the note of the current taking cars and burying them in dirt down river etc etc"....

But thanks for the POS answers,
I apprecate it,and now im 95% sure im gonna take the 3 or 6 week training "snow here and to cold to hit any river or pond" so might aswell take the classes....

But the equipment --whew $$$$.i guess i will cash some coins in...,lol,..

But im gonna go to the local store and ask tons of questions...,as for bottles - heheehh....if ya only knew.....wanna buy any?trade/barter.....lol,tons i have....

 

[pinniped]

Also something that no one has mentioned. I am in the Northeast, and there are some nasty thermoclines in ponds, quarry's, etc. In the fall or late summer the water can be pleasant when you go in, and at 30 feet (why does it always seem to happen at 30 feet?) all of a sudden it feels as though you have smacked into a wall, the water is so cold! So be sure you know what the water temps are down below. Many of the rivers, creeks, lakes, etc. are spring fed, and you will have a heart attack if you do not have the correct amount of thermal protection.

 

[PhipsFolly]

Hey Rich... one last thing. Just a bit of advice from someone who has been diving for 24 years... and I know you will hear this in whatever dive certification class you take, but DON'T DIVE ALONE!! Meet some friends who dive and go together... be safe man!!
Best of luck to you... diving is AWESOME!!!!