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Whats the best way to find a watch lost in 20' deep lake?
- Thread starter rhouston8
- Start date
Wish you were closer to Victoria...I am certified and have a couple underwater detectors. I am traveling alot right now but if you haven't found it by mid august...shoot me an email and I'll give it a shot...you supply tha gas and beer(after the diving!). Don't know if anybody has answered the magnet issue but if it is a real Rolex,,,no dice. And have dove these murky lakes....lights don't help much if any
Good luck! Kieth
Good luck! Kieth
Agree also Ken. I bought my first underwater detector to hunt a spot that thousands of teenagers hit every summer. Problem is I did not think about all the aluminum cans...detector would not stop going off. Started just eyeballing the bottom and started finding tons of stuff. Kieth
grumpyolman
New member
Found an 18K antique wedding band in 20' of water that was mostly mudd. Also found a pair of Rx sunglasses in 20' where there was reasonable vis. Both with the method describe below. Gotta have a diver with a metal detector though.
Nobody has told you about a circle search. Drop a coffee can filled with cement, or any cheapy anchor, exactly where you think the watch might be. Attach a float to the line hooked onto the coffee can to mark the spot. Send the diver down and attach a rope to the 'up' line on the coffee can using a bowline. Use a detector and complete one circle around the can about a 2-3' sweep length using the detector. Each time you complete a circle, go out one more sweep length until you have completed searching the prime area. Make sure you overlap sweeps and that you go a bit farther each circle than the previous lap. It's hard when vis drops to know when you've completed the circle.
Use some logic and common sense to do 2-3 searches using the same method overlapping the prime area a couple of different time from different directions. The ring was in a mud bottom and had been there about 1 week. It had sunk into the mud about 4". I suspect the Rolex, being heavier, is deeper.
I agree. Dive first, then try other methods after that. Dredging is all or nothing. Either you'll scoop it or you'll drive it beyone metal detector detection depth. The othe consideration is what is around this spot? Is it a trashed area that was once a marina and the bottom is literally littered with ferrous object? Or...is it a fairly non descript area that probably is clean?
Accidents do happen, but anybody who kneeboards with a Rolex on their arm either has money to burn or is missing a few IQ points. I apologize for the rude comment, but it's just like saying "Duh!" What might you expect impacting water at kneeboard speed? jim
Nobody has told you about a circle search. Drop a coffee can filled with cement, or any cheapy anchor, exactly where you think the watch might be. Attach a float to the line hooked onto the coffee can to mark the spot. Send the diver down and attach a rope to the 'up' line on the coffee can using a bowline. Use a detector and complete one circle around the can about a 2-3' sweep length using the detector. Each time you complete a circle, go out one more sweep length until you have completed searching the prime area. Make sure you overlap sweeps and that you go a bit farther each circle than the previous lap. It's hard when vis drops to know when you've completed the circle.
Use some logic and common sense to do 2-3 searches using the same method overlapping the prime area a couple of different time from different directions. The ring was in a mud bottom and had been there about 1 week. It had sunk into the mud about 4". I suspect the Rolex, being heavier, is deeper.
I agree. Dive first, then try other methods after that. Dredging is all or nothing. Either you'll scoop it or you'll drive it beyone metal detector detection depth. The othe consideration is what is around this spot? Is it a trashed area that was once a marina and the bottom is literally littered with ferrous object? Or...is it a fairly non descript area that probably is clean?
Accidents do happen, but anybody who kneeboards with a Rolex on their arm either has money to burn or is missing a few IQ points. I apologize for the rude comment, but it's just like saying "Duh!" What might you expect impacting water at kneeboard speed? jim
R-n-R Magnolia SpringsAla
New member
Alot of things I never would have thought of. Also Where does a stainless Rolex hit on the disc??? Iron? Dollar? Being stainless it may not hit in the plus range? How would a VLF or PI react to a stainless watch?
BootyHunter
Active member
My suggestion would be to 1. Find local metal detecting club and get 2 or 3 folks who enjoy underwater metal detecting to help you.
2. Either through step 1 or separately, find someone with a Hookah system( Surface Supplied Air) So you have virtually unlimited search time. Each of your guys could team up with an experienced hunter and they could teach you the basics of the machine for what you are wanting to do. Then you could work in shifts off the hookah in your search.
3. Don't get tunnel vision and think that the watch has to be "within x of y from z" I have searched for lost items numerous times and not once was it really anywhere near where the person said it was, I mean think about it, if they were so sure where it was it wouldn't be lost now would it. Expand your search area at least by double the size of the suspected area.
4. Have someone on the surface taking gps coordinates and eliminate areas to search after you have searched them "thoroughly" with the gps, then when you have to come back another day or after lunch you are not looking in the same areas.
5. Find a similar watch with the same characteristics and do some tests such as how does it read on the type of metal detector that will be used, is it magnetic, how heavy is it.
This will not be easy but it is possible, don't waste your time trying to buy a detector and find it yourselves, it is not impossible but it is really hard to get positive results from a detector when you are totally new to it. You will have the difficulty of the search compounded by the inexperience of the searcher. Since you obviously enjoy diving, the money spent on a detector would be better served going on a hookah system, you would enjoy it long after the watch is found or given up on and will be the key to this operation. Trying to keep tanks filled for this type of search will be a real logistical nightmare. Good luck and I sincerely hope you find the watch. Please keep us updated on this site as to what happens, if I were in your area I would gladly assist you and one more thought, don't forget craigslist or some other similar free method of asking for help. There are alot of us who really enjoy helping someone trying to find something and there is probably all kinds of other valuables that will be found while your looking for this watch. Good luck.
2. Either through step 1 or separately, find someone with a Hookah system( Surface Supplied Air) So you have virtually unlimited search time. Each of your guys could team up with an experienced hunter and they could teach you the basics of the machine for what you are wanting to do. Then you could work in shifts off the hookah in your search.
3. Don't get tunnel vision and think that the watch has to be "within x of y from z" I have searched for lost items numerous times and not once was it really anywhere near where the person said it was, I mean think about it, if they were so sure where it was it wouldn't be lost now would it. Expand your search area at least by double the size of the suspected area.
4. Have someone on the surface taking gps coordinates and eliminate areas to search after you have searched them "thoroughly" with the gps, then when you have to come back another day or after lunch you are not looking in the same areas.
5. Find a similar watch with the same characteristics and do some tests such as how does it read on the type of metal detector that will be used, is it magnetic, how heavy is it.
This will not be easy but it is possible, don't waste your time trying to buy a detector and find it yourselves, it is not impossible but it is really hard to get positive results from a detector when you are totally new to it. You will have the difficulty of the search compounded by the inexperience of the searcher. Since you obviously enjoy diving, the money spent on a detector would be better served going on a hookah system, you would enjoy it long after the watch is found or given up on and will be the key to this operation. Trying to keep tanks filled for this type of search will be a real logistical nightmare. Good luck and I sincerely hope you find the watch. Please keep us updated on this site as to what happens, if I were in your area I would gladly assist you and one more thought, don't forget craigslist or some other similar free method of asking for help. There are alot of us who really enjoy helping someone trying to find something and there is probably all kinds of other valuables that will be found while your looking for this watch. Good luck.
grumpyolman
New member
Forget the GPS idea. I do search and rescue. The GPSs only have an EPE (estimated positional error) that's no better than a stated 7-10' and is no better than the number of satellites and the type of satellite the GPS is receiving or the accuracy of the algorythm the math guy prepared to give that number. The way that's calculated is proprietary so the real GPS nerds, kind of like detector nerds, can't really evaluate how accurate the GPS is in reporting. GPS is good for general navigation. To accurately record where you've been you need GIS or a transit.
The SSA (surface supplied air) is a great idea. But, somebody would have to have the equipment as it's way too pricey to acquire for a one time application.
Also agree 100% that the person who lost something is not, normally, a reliable source. I could tell many stories about searching for things people swore were within a 5' area and found it as much as 50' from there. Thus the reason for 3-4 circle searches overlapping in the highest probability area.
Wish I was in the area. I'd hook up with a few of the detecting divers here on the forum, bring my SSA, and 3 detectors that work great in freshwater. Might take a bit of time. Betcha we'd find it...if it's really in the lake where it's stated it is.
Did an underwater search hired by an insurance company for a ring allegedly thrown in a marina by an angry fiancee' who saw her soon to be husband motoring out into the lake with a blonde tucked under his arm. I searched where the ring was supposed to be lost, for two days. Burned two sets of twin 50s. Found nothing but safety pins, etc. Then I called the ring tosser for information. As soon as she found out I was working for an independent insurance company, not her ex-boyfriend's firm, she told me she hocked it. So...those of us who search for others lost valuables are a bit wary from experience.
Hope you mount up the crew to find this thing. Like the others have said, keep us posted. jim
The SSA (surface supplied air) is a great idea. But, somebody would have to have the equipment as it's way too pricey to acquire for a one time application.
Also agree 100% that the person who lost something is not, normally, a reliable source. I could tell many stories about searching for things people swore were within a 5' area and found it as much as 50' from there. Thus the reason for 3-4 circle searches overlapping in the highest probability area.
Wish I was in the area. I'd hook up with a few of the detecting divers here on the forum, bring my SSA, and 3 detectors that work great in freshwater. Might take a bit of time. Betcha we'd find it...if it's really in the lake where it's stated it is.
Did an underwater search hired by an insurance company for a ring allegedly thrown in a marina by an angry fiancee' who saw her soon to be husband motoring out into the lake with a blonde tucked under his arm. I searched where the ring was supposed to be lost, for two days. Burned two sets of twin 50s. Found nothing but safety pins, etc. Then I called the ring tosser for information. As soon as she found out I was working for an independent insurance company, not her ex-boyfriend's firm, she told me she hocked it. So...those of us who search for others lost valuables are a bit wary from experience.
Hope you mount up the crew to find this thing. Like the others have said, keep us posted. jim
BootyHunter
Active member
Grumpyolman, how are you? I don't see what is wrong with gps, it doesn't matter if accurate or not, it still will show where you have searched and where you have not. If it is off by 100 feet it will be off by the same 100' all accross the lake. It will still allow them to have an idea of where they have searched. Otherwise all the surface of the water will look the same and it will be pretty hard to tell where you have been. I bet if we had the time we could round up a posse on here and find it for them! See ya later and HH.
grumpyolman
New member
BH...If the GPS is not accurate how is it going to tell where you have searched? You are likely to miss areas and not even know it. The only way to really do a complete search is to lay bottom lines in a grid and search the grid. If you had floats that went straight up from the corners of the grid, providing there's no current, you could pretty much set a course for another area to search in much the same way. But believe me, the GPSs are just not accurate enough to guarantee on day one if you start at coordinate "A" and then return there day two, that you are at the same spot. You may be 10-20' away from where you were on day one even though the GPS says exactly the same coordinate. So...really the best way is to use anchored markers and hope nobody plays with them and moves them when you aren't there.
One way in which we fooled some of the prying eyes was to anchor the floating marker 10' beneath the surface. Get to the general area with the GPS and then drop over the side and dive till you find that float and then let out the line anchoring it so it makes it to the surface. Then start your serious searching.
To get the best success probability you need to get a few open minded experienced folks to form a cooperative working team willing to listen to all ideas and then jointly come up with the best plan. Get some people there with big egos and you probability of success decreases proportionately to the size of the egos being expressed. Glad to see folks question the logic and explanations if they don't make sense. If it's not clear it's my problem for not explaining it clearly enough. Best to you...jim
One way in which we fooled some of the prying eyes was to anchor the floating marker 10' beneath the surface. Get to the general area with the GPS and then drop over the side and dive till you find that float and then let out the line anchoring it so it makes it to the surface. Then start your serious searching.
To get the best success probability you need to get a few open minded experienced folks to form a cooperative working team willing to listen to all ideas and then jointly come up with the best plan. Get some people there with big egos and you probability of success decreases proportionately to the size of the egos being expressed. Glad to see folks question the logic and explanations if they don't make sense. If it's not clear it's my problem for not explaining it clearly enough. Best to you...jim