Anybody diving for Megs this winter??

[Lee Taylor]

Thanks for posting the photos Herb. I have been on that boat. I would recognize that ladder anywhere. It is perhaps the best ladder design I have ever seen and used. Glad to see there are still some hard core's like Bill still running the river.

I feel good, my dive gear is packed, my batteries are charging, my tanks are waiting, and I will step onto a fossiling boat Saturday morning. Headed out to my old hunting grounds...the Cooper. Let the hunt begin! Durham Creek here I come!

 

[pond skipper]

Lee, I love your excitement! I am looking forward to this too. Talked to Scubadaddee earlier and liked what he had to say about this trip. Looking forward to meeting everyone. Gotta do some diving tomorrow and then I'll be ready for Saturday. OOOHH the fossils!

 

[Lee Taylor]

Skipper... there are not many river guides as colorful and knowledgeable as Scubadaddee. When I first met him he was pouring a big load of wet fossils out of a bag onto a dive store counter. He claimed to have knowledge of and old French shipwreck, coins, and artifacts in the Cooper river. Well it wasn't long before I was on his riverboat watching him strap on a specially fashioned homemade head mounted dive light. It was made out of welding helmet strapping, an enclosed motorcycle battery, a Zebco 22 fishing reel, and an expensive special bulb. In those days he was digging tremendous holes in the bottom of the river using a wore out lawnmower blade. And more important that anything, he enjoyed the HELL outta it. I have seen him stop to help people in trouble dozens of times. I have seen him tow people back to the dock. He is a certified Captain and I have seen him offer to marry people on the water. A man once told me "I prefer going with Scubadaddee more than anyone else because I ALWAYS have fun on Scubadaddee's boat".

I am completely ready to go. I am just chilling and waitn the time out

Here is where you are diving tomorrow:

Megalodon Shark Tooth Map - Google Maps

 

[pond skipper]

I had a great time yesterday. We might have been off the fossils a bit but it was OK. Here are some pics of the teeth that I picked up. I was pretty happy with the Angy's that I got. That is mainly what I wanted to add to my collection so it worked out. Phill was a great captain and generally a fun guy. After all the diving was over we got our gear cleaned for free by a major downpour. Thanks for the goodies Al. I am giving you a new name "bottom time". It was great meeting all of you guys on the boat and I really enjoyed your company. Hope to do it again soon. Maybe the teeth will jump in our bags next time!

 

[Lee Taylor]

Five of us went fossiling in the Cooper river yesterday. There was Brian from Atlanta, Al Coffey of Meghunter Magazine fame, Pond Skipper... Savannah GA fossil hunter extraordinaire, myself, and Scubadaddee (Backwater Diversions) our boat guide. I only went for half a day, the others made a whole day of it. We met at Durham Creek landing and headed out around 9am. When we intersected the Cooper river we turned right and went down river about 3 miles. We dove on a couple of beds that did not produce anything for me personally. One of the guys found a 5 inch Meg. The guys also did a "show and tell" of some previous finds. I will post them below.

This is the ride out. This is Durham Creek. Found a 4" gray Meg here in the past.

Remnants of old Cooper river boat dock - circa 1850

Cleaned up tooth from previous 2011 trip on the Edisto - Compliments Backwater Diversions

Cleaned and slightly buffed tooth from early 2011 Edisto trip - Compliments Backwater Diversions

Awesome Meg brought for "show and tell" by Pond Skipper

Rear view of Pond Skippers killer Meg

Container of cleaned teeth from previous 2011 Edisto river fossiling trips

The only green tooth I have ever seen - Compliments Backwater Diversions

 

[Meghunteral]

It was great meeting you guys and I look forward to giving it another shot ASAP. Fingers are still pruney and I can't hear anything because my head is waterlogged but I am ready to go!

 

[scubadaddee]

Hey, guys it was fun for all! Lee you were wise to bail when you did. That was the hardest rain and most lighting I,ve ever experinced! Sure was glad to get back to the landing safely. We had a great DAY of diving Sunday also. I counted a 163 whole teeth when I got home plus a couple of suprises . Had 2 small whale (?) teeth.

 

[pond skipper]

I agree, awesome time and great company! Wish I could have gone on Sunday. Let me know when your next trip is on the Edisto, I am good to go anytime later this week. Did some diving today and got 4 killer Megs all over 4.5". I'll post some pics tomorrow ....when I get back from diving.

 

[AeroMike]

I need to join y'all next time~!

 

[Lee Taylor]

I heard the thunder as we were traversing down Durham Creek Saturday afternoon on the way to pick up more tanks. When I heard the weather report later that afternoon I had a feeling you guys were gonna get dumped on.

I am completely amazed and thrilled with the Edisto river production. I feel great things are coming. I am on hot stand by just waiting for the green light to dive the Edisto again.

Been working on improving my pathetic polishing techniques. The air brush/eraser using aluminum oxide works quite well but is too "toylike". Needs to be more "industrial strength". The red rouge / 6" buffing wheel works well.

Here are some before after photos of an Edisto tooth found a few weeks ago:

Before

After - pretty little $60 gem

After