Cooper River

[stoneybrooks]

I am heading to the Cooper River in SC for some black water diving. We are looking for teeth, pipes, bones etc. Anyone been there and done that and have some good lessons learned?

[Lead_carrier]

Who are you diving with? The best advice I can give is have a river pick, not a screwdriver, but then again a couple of operators will scream and tell you how stupid you are if you don't like their type of screwdriver.

Best advice is a GOOD light. You'll hit the bottom crawl around the gravel beds, looking and digging. Have a surface marker with you also. There are a number of stupid boaters in the area. Happy hunting.

[Dr Neil]

Cooper River diving is a moving experience! River current, alligators, no visibility, underwater hazards, plus boaters and jet skis.

It's not for everyone, but the exhilaration of finding a 6" megladon tooth is absolutely memorable.

I learned to have either a large screwdriver or a dandelion digger with a wrist strap is an excellent tool to have. Also be sure to have a good clip on your goody bag.

Have fun!

[WartedEmperor]

What dive boat operator do you all recommend going with?

Also my brother has a boat I could use. Where are the locations you should go hunting for teeth?

[LIVES4SHARKS]

Before diving black water, I recommend this site.
River Diving Technique (http://www.mindspring.com/~divegeek/rivertech.htm) and http://www.mindspring.com/~divegeek/requip.htm
It is extremely educational for the type of equipment a diver should use etc. The Cooper and Savannah Rivers are famous for their Megs and historical artifacts. I have heard good things about about Cpt Tom. http://www.cooperriver.com/ I hope you have a great time! But understand what you are getting into!

Carolyn:shark2:

[Prostar]

If the log moves, guess what it is.

[Lead_carrier]

Before diving black water, I recommend this site.
River Diving Technique (http://www.mindspring.com/~divegeek/rivertech.htm) and River Diving Equipment (http://www.mindspring.com/~divegeek/requip.htm)
It is extremely educational for the type of equipment a diver should use etc. The Cooper and Savannah Rivers are famous for their Megs and historical artifacts.
Carolyn:shark2:

The articles had some interesting info. The "requip" did have some very useful info on tools to use to pull yourself along and hold yourself against the current.



I have heard good things about about Cpt Tom. Big News Flash Water Temparature is now 64 Degrees as measured by the depth recorder on the boat 04/07/07 (http://www.cooperriver.com/) I hope you have a great time! But understand what you are getting into!:

I guess everyone has their own opinion. I was not impressed with him, especially when he kept telling me that the way I dived and equipment used on previous dives was dangerous and stupid. I prefer Capt. Phil Back Water Diversions Home Page (http://www.backwaterdiversions.com/index.html)

[LIVES4SHARKS]

That is why this board is so useful, you get alot of information on dive operators. I haven't had the pleasure of diving the Cooper, so it was just an operator that a few from my shop have used without issues.

Happy hunting!
Carolyn:shark2:

[Lead_carrier]

Another outfit that I've heard nothing but good about is OFF THE WALL DIVE CHARTERS (864)944-DIVE (http://www.offthewalldiving.com/2.html)

[protohuman]

Been there several times. It is my favorite dive except for the Mexican cenotes. Take a really big light (best a canister with goodman handle), a big goody bag tied to you so it does not drift away in the current, SMB, reel or just hold the smb as you surface. Screwdriver with a hole drilled in handle for a cord to go aroiund your wrist, way more weight than you have ever thought of using (I use 30 pounds vs normal 15-16) , use a big scuba tank as they are only 30 foot dives and you don't have to worry much about bottom time. Stay in the gravel. Sometimes I don't use fins, I just crawl, but fins are really handy for swimming back to the boat. I bought a cheap pair of knee pads in the Home Depot tile dept to save my wetsuit knees. LISTEN FOR PROPELLERS BEFORE GOING UP, use that SMB before going up, but some weekend boaters will drive up to it to see what it is. Finally, NEVER pull on the gator's tail. The big pink or white catfish are friendly but make you think of gators at first. You will probably see some eels as well, enjoy them, they will ignore you. I have never heard of the gators bothering divers in the water, but it would be foolish to walk in the reeds on the bank or to poke around an overhanging bank in the water.. Stay in the river or in the boat. Since the dives are relatively shallow you really don't have to worry about deco. That makes for very peaceful solo diving. Just do some surface interval time and hydrate well.

[Dr Neil]

Word of advice....
when the boat Captain tells you to wait a minute or two before entering the water so the gator can float by.... take it seriously.

[SelkieDVM]

We used Cooper River Dive Charters - CooperRiverDiving.Com (http://cooperriverdiving.com/) and would highly recommend Capt. John. If you can stand the cold water, visibility is generally better in the winter as I understand it. We went in December and had a good 6'. Also, no gators and less boat traffic, but the water was in the low 50s. We're going back this December and I can't wait.

[stoneybrooks]

Thanks for the advice. I have a big light, a goody bag, a reel w/surface marker for emergencies, a surface marker for surfacing, garden tool with wrist strap, a couple of knives, and knee pads. I dove this set up twice and practiced using all the tools. The only concern I had was with a 3mil suit and all the stuff hanging on me 18 pounds was all my BC would float (keeping my nose above water)it sunk me like a rock in a lake with no current. If I make an effort on my back I can carry more but if I were in troule that may be bad. So I guess I will go with 18 and see how it goes. As far as the gators go I plan on avoiding the banks at all costs! Thanks again!

[LIVES4SHARKS]

Good luck and post a report and pics of your loot!

Carolyn:shark2:

[Jyder]

I actually did my SDI Rescue Diver course in the Tail Race and finished up with 2 dives in the Cooper (pronounced cupper). These tips are right on point. I usually do about 4 lbs in my 3mil. i was wearing 16 lbs when i went. My Scubapro Knighthawk had no problem lifting me, then again, I'm a featherweight. Definately take a screwdriver. Go out and buy a brand new one if you want, but put that one in your tool box and take the big crappy one nobody ever uses and put a hole in the handle. Dont overdue the "river pick". it's liable to get lost anyway. I would recommend hooking a carabine clip to your goody bag and light and attaching it to your BC. I have a pistol grip on my light so if I had to have both hands free it'd still be attached to my BC. Plus the carabine clip is easy on/off. Kneepads are a good idea. I'm thinking of getting me some when i get back home. Gators have attacked before, but few and far between. And these guys are not aggressive toward humans unless provoked. I've lived in SC all my life right off the Cooper and I've never had a bad encounter with a gator. Finally, when I went down there I was with Capt Terry with Lowcountry Diving. I hooked up with him through Capt John and Cooper River Diving. These two are both very knowledgeable of the Cooper River and the Tail Race Canal. I highly recommend them.

[Lee Taylor]

JoyfulLee and I went diving for Megalodons this past dive season with Back Water Diversions. We traversed the beautiful back waters of Charleston SC. Our very experienced river guide, Phil Myers, took us down the Cooper River and then into a tributary called the French Quarter. We dove in an area affectionately called the kiddy pool because of its shallow depth (20ft), warm sandy bottom, low boat traffic, and low current. Joy and I used scuba tanks and some of the others used a Hookah. The Hookah is a rig that pumps surface air down to a diver. The guys using the Hookah also had a tank on their back and were doing 2-1/2 hour dives.

Directions to this dive site:

Megalodon Shark tooth Map (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&hq=fossils+charleston+cooper+river&hnear=French+Quarter,+Charleston,+SC&msa=0&msid=114177489686509452838.00043bdee9d7dab85e86c&z=13)

Click on "French Quarter"

I found the tooth on the right at this site (summer 2009)

]OebfujETSds......3t7MgkINLdE


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q123/james_islander/Cooper%20River/FQ.jpg......http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q123/james_islander/fossils/tooth.jpg

There are lots of good dive operations on the Cooper River. Here are links to a few.

Charleston______________ Charleston Scuba (http://www.charlestonscuba.com)

Cooper River____________ Cooper River Dive Charters (http://www.cooperriverdiving.com)

Cooper River ____________ Back Water Diversions (http://www.backwaterdiversions.com)

Summerville_____________ Lowcountry Diving (http://lowcountrydiving.com)

Up State_______________ Off The Wall Charters (http://www.offthewalldiving.com)