Underwater Caches?

[+M4Real]

I(we) are brand new at Geocaching and found our first 10 caches today. We love it and are hooked. While out searching and talking about cool ways to place a cache, my daughter said we should place a cache underwater at our favorite spot in Crystal River, FL. We talked about it and figured it could be in shallow water so anyone could find it. A waterproof container attached to a cinder block would work. What does the community think about it?

[+Pork King]

There have been many a cache hidden in the depths, from SCUBA gear needed to shallow ponds. Here are some links to previous discussions...

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=332648&st=0&p=5511559&hl=underwater%20cache&fromsearch=1entry5511559

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=332058&st=0&p=5506018&hl=underwater%20cache&fromsearch=1entry5506018

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=325690&st=0&p=5421682&hl=underwater%20cache&fromsearch=1entry5421682

 

If you find a container that might work, be sure to test it by submerging in a bucket or at the actual hide spot and keep a check on it for a week or so before publishing it to make sure it's watertight, or, alternatively, come up with a logbook that won't mind getting wet, like a diver's slate.

[+cerberus1]

Many can't get folks to keep contents in "waterproof" containers from getting damp/wet on dry land.

A Reviewer in your state said he used a beat ammo can with a divers slate inside.

[+Pork King]

Many can't get folks to keep contents in "waterproof" containers from getting damp/wet on dry land.

A Reviewer in your state said he used a beat ammo can with a divers slate inside.

 

OT: I just noticed we have the same join date, cerberus1. Cool. "Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world...", huh?

[+narcissa]

You should get some more finds under your belt and try your hand at a couple of easier hides before taking on something like that. It's going to need a really well-designed container and frequent maintenance to work. Have you read the guidelines? Do you know how to get permission for the hide? It's great that you're enthusiastic, but there's a lot you should learn before you take on ownership of a complex cache.

[+Druce_n_Eulla]

Go for it. Ammo can with a lock n lock inside holding log book. Good for 5 years before ammo can needs replaced. Super low maintenance. Even then the lock n lock kept log dry. It's only a paper book nothing special besides cover art.

 

Placement should be in an area with slow water flow even during times of high water. Wouldn't want it to drift away. Even a few feet could make it impossible to find.

[+Mudfrog]

You should get some more finds under your belt and try your hand at a couple of easier hides before taking on something like that. It's going to need a really well-designed container and frequent maintenance to work. Have you read the guidelines? Do you know how to get permission for the hide? It's great that you're enthusiastic, but there's a lot you should learn before you take on ownership of a complex cache.

 

Getting the right container is the hard part with a cache like this. To the OP, after you're satisfied with container selection, then be sure to read the gc.com guidelines. Being a river, be sure to think about water flow and flooding potential. You'll need to anchor the cache securely or you'll end up with a maintenance nightmare.

 

I'd normally agree that finding more caches is the way to go but in this case, that might hurt. There is just no comparison between the many "normal" caches the OP will end up finding, and this possibly exceptional cache that they want to place. A cache like this requires the use of common sense more than anything. Any experience gained from finding park and grab type caches won't help much.

[+bflentje]

You should get some more finds under your belt and try your hand at a couple of easier hides before taking on something like that.

 

and we have this in another thread..

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with people who find, but don't hide. It isn't bad karma. It isn't leeching. It isn't any of the awful things some people say about it.

 

I am seeing a pattern..

[+narcissa]

You should get some more finds under your belt and try your hand at a couple of easier hides before taking on something like that. It's going to need a really well-designed container and frequent maintenance to work. Have you read the guidelines? Do you know how to get permission for the hide? It's great that you're enthusiastic, but there's a lot you should learn before you take on ownership of a complex cache.

 

Getting the right container is the hard part with a cache like this. To the OP, after you're satisfied with container selection, then be sure to read the gc.com guidelines. Being a river, be sure to think about water flow and flooding potential. You'll need to anchor the cache securely or you'll end up with a maintenance nightmare.

 

I'd normally agree that finding more caches is the way to go but in this case, that might hurt. There is just no comparison between the many "normal" caches the OP will end up finding, and this possibly exceptional cache that they want to place. A cache like this requires the use of common sense more than anything. Any experience gained from finding park and grab type caches won't help much.

 

I think the biggest hurdle will be permission.

[+coachstahly]

Permission is probably going to be based on Florida's navigable waterways statute as applied on the state level. FL has quite a few paddle caches so it looks like you could get yours approved. There are some caches listed nearby that are paddle caches - specifically near Homosassa Springs. I'd contact the CO to see what they needed to do in order to get permission to place a paddle cache. You'll need to make the determination whether or not you want it found by boat (5T) or if someone could hike to it (legally) and then wade out to it (various T ratings dependent upon a variety of factors).

 

Here's the link to a cache in the series mentioned above.

 

My link

[+NYPaddleCacher]

You should get some more finds under your belt and try your hand at a couple of easier hides before taking on something like that.

 

and we have this in another thread..

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with people who find, but don't hide. It isn't bad karma. It isn't leeching. It isn't any of the awful things some people say about it.

 

I am seeing a pattern..

 

It would be great if responsible cache ownership became a common pattern.

[+bflentje]

You should get some more finds under your belt and try your hand at a couple of easier hides before taking on something like that.

 

and we have this in another thread..

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with people who find, but don't hide. It isn't bad karma. It isn't leeching. It isn't any of the awful things some people say about it.

 

I am seeing a pattern..

 

It would be great if responsible cache ownership became a common pattern.

 

Yeah, but too bad that's not on topic.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

You should get some more finds under your belt and try your hand at a couple of easier hides before taking on something like that.

 

and we have this in another thread..

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with people who find, but don't hide. It isn't bad karma. It isn't leeching. It isn't any of the awful things some people say about it.

 

I am seeing a pattern..

 

It would be great if responsible cache ownership became a common pattern.

 

Yeah, but too bad that's not on topic.

 

Neither is post #8

[+bflentje]

You should get some more finds under your belt and try your hand at a couple of easier hides before taking on something like that.

 

and we have this in another thread..

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with people who find, but don't hide. It isn't bad karma. It isn't leeching. It isn't any of the awful things some people say about it.

 

I am seeing a pattern..

 

It would be great if responsible cache ownership became a common pattern.

 

Yeah, but too bad that's not on topic.

 

Neither is post #8

 

I blame post #5.

 

To keep it back on topic, here's the best underwater container I've ever built..

 

http://blog.flentje.com/post/2008/05/25/image.axd?picture=2008%2f05%2fGC1CKTX.01.800x600.jpg

[+NYPaddleCacher]

You should get some more finds under your belt and try your hand at a couple of easier hides before taking on something like that.

 

and we have this in another thread..

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with people who find, but don't hide. It isn't bad karma. It isn't leeching. It isn't any of the awful things some people say about it.

 

I am seeing a pattern..

 

It would be great if responsible cache ownership became a common pattern.

 

Yeah, but too bad that's not on topic.

 

Neither is post #8

 

I blame post #5.

 

To keep it back on topic, here's the best underwater container I've ever built..

 

http://blog.flentje.....01.800x600.jpg

 

narcissas fault.

 

I think I remember seeing pix of that cache when you were first making it.

[+badger10]

My son and I put an ammo can in the Columbia River. The ammo can was about half full of pebbles with a small Lock n Lock. It was placed in a cement culvert (partial piece) about 10 feet out in the river. It was in there and quite dry until the water level was lowered due to lack of snow. It was muggled. We are looking at putting another one out and placing it amongst some boulders so it will be harder to find if the water goes lower again. I saw a video of a smaller Lock n Lock that was placed inside a larger one with concrete inside the larger one to weigh it down and keep the smaller cache in place.

[+palmetto]

place a cache underwater at our favorite spot in Crystal River, FL.

 

Coming to this a bit late, it's very likely that the "favorite spot" is within the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, and would be off limits to a geocache, or at least would require verifiable permission from the NWR supervisor.

 

Both the state of Florida and the federal government claim management and ownership of "submerged lands" (and they can be bought and sold by private individuals as well). This often surprises those who suppose that navigable water means no rules.

[Terminator 1000]

sincerly, I think that underwater cechés are great; well, only if it's accessible from the ground.

for example, attached with a rope into a lake, in a fountain...