samsliquidblue
Guest
This last trip to the Cooper River in Charleston, SC was great. The river has had time to turn over this winter and the finds are coming out of there now. A prize 28" long piece of ivory tusk was recovered by a lucky diver from Atlanta. Several South Carolina Dipensery Bottles have surfaced too. The teeth are coming out of the river in the 4-6 inch range in very nice quality along with some large bones and wonderful Indian points. Clay crocks and a large 1700 gallon size wine vessel surfaced. Now is the time to plan the trips to the river early to gather those unique artifacts that have been emerging since the winter. The water is in the 70's range and it is time to get out of the dry suits and into the wet suit to dive this black water river. It is not a braille dive in any stretch of the imagination. Once on the bottom you can usually see 5 feet around you, average depth is 35 feet. The current is strong enough to blow the sand out of your way if you like to dig or fan. Remember that the light you carry is directly proportional to the ablity of finding things down there. So guys, BIGGER is better but then again cost is a reality too. Also a good study of the newly released second edition of "Vertebrate Fossils: A Neophyte's Guide" by Frank A. Kocsis Jr. is the way you get those River Eyes on before you dive. By studying this manual you will learn the shapes of the treasures you want to try and identify while you are in this underwater world which is like no other. The rule of the river is, "bring it up and let's see what you have; it can be tossed back at anytime." I hate to hear a diver say, "I saw one of those down there but I left it." NO bring it up here first! Oh yes, the little issue about the Natives or Locals as they are so affectionately called, well they have just finished up the 2002 breeding season so spoting 30 in one day is now down to 3-4 if you are lucky. You might actually see more of our Proud Eagles on the river than the Locals. They are settling into the rice paddies to stay clear of neoprene and bubbles and especially boaters. Try coming in the duck season and you won't see one, they hate ducks because the ducks attrack all those camo-men and more boats! Plus you get a free idea of the Civil War Battles that were fought on the river. Ducks and feathers flying all around. The ducks are really smarter than the camo-men, they sit in the water because you can't shoot a sitting duck and the Locals are hiding out. Come and float on the river like Huck Finn and dive the bottom like an explorer ever searching. You can do it, I did; I even wear PINK and BLACK! It is the most interesting diving that I have done. Lots of those Hoboken, Jersey Wreck Divers survived the river to tell about it and have taken some of the finest treasures home with them. www.offthewalldiving.com is setting up some fabulous trips on the best tides of the season so check out the site and see if it will fit your dive plans now.