Scuba Diving Article

Scuba Diving and Treasure Hunting

Every scuba diver dreams of Treasure Hunting maybe it is because it has been estimated that the literally billions of dollars that have been found and pulled up from below the waves, represent only about 2 percent of what lies below. And the treasures beneath the surface are not only the obvious ones of gold and silver. The sea holds a trove of historical artifacts that are also treasure if only for their historical value.

There is not a specific scuba diver certification labeled "Treasure Diver" but if you are going to do any serious treasure hunting, wreck diver and or cave or cavern diver certification would be strongly recommended. Since the wrecks that hold the most promising possibilities of sunken riches are also likely in deep waters some type of training in extended and deep-water scuba diving is also recommended such as Enriched Air Diving or Rebreather Diving. It is possible however for even average recreational divers of modest ability to search for undersea treasure, without ever having to enter a wreck or a cavern. There are metal detectors, very similar to the type used by beachcombers and "coin shooters" along the shoreline that operate below the surface. Armed with one of these. scuba divers have been known find all manner of gold and sliver nuggets, coins and other valuable precious metals and historical artifacts. Such underwater metal detectors range in cost from about 300.00 to 2000.00 but enthusiasts claim the often pay for themselves with just a few finds. You can find out more about underwater metal detectors and other treasure hunting gear for scuba divers at www.detectorpro.com

When it comes to diving for treasure while there is no denying the lure of doubloons and pirate gold, there is much t be found in simpler shallower dives in lakes or rivers. Recreational lakes especially afford many trinkets, jewelry and coins that have been lost by boaters, fishermen and swimmers over the years, and with the limited currents in lakes, items lost tend to stay in place. Treasure diver Gary Storm describes some surprising finds in a lake literally in his own backyard. "I jumped in the water by my dock and not 20 feet from it I found the most gorgeous Diamond ruby antique ring. Some of the other things I found were a purse with 2 barber quarters and four pennies. An 1876 seated quarter, 1865 two-cent piece, and 3 walking half dollars, another gold ring and a few pieces of sterling jewelry. I also found a few antique bottles. It was great fun."

But if an adventurous Treasure Hunt in an exotic local is more what you have in mind - there are many organized Treasure Dives that go on around the world on a regular basis that you can sign on for. Usually the organizers of the dive hold the necessary permits to dive on a known treasure dive site, and depending on how the dive has been set up you as a participant can either keep what you find within the parameters of the licensing agreement with the local authorities, or share in the percentage of the overall "take" in the dive. A listing and more details about such dives are available by logging on to http://www.scubaduba.com/wreck/nfwreckintro.html.