DiveCaching

After building a suitable cache of items and placing them in an appropriate container, the diver can hide the cache in an underwater location of their choice.

The first step in hiding a DiveCache is to research the location.  It is common to hide caches in places that have some personal importance to you.  That’s part of the fun of sharing this experience.  As you are considering a place to hide a DiveCache, consider the following (adopted from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Geocaching):

Does it meet the listing requirements of Geocaching.com?  Make sure to review these prior to hiding your cache.  Issues of concern include cache saturation, commerciality, solicitation and long-term cache maintenance.

1. Did you consider accessibility?  If a cache is too visible or too close to a well-used dive site, there is a good chance that someone may stumble upon it accidentally.  It is best to place a cache away from the “normal” dive locations and in places that are out of sight of non-cachers.
2. Did you seek permission from the landowner, government entity, or property manager?  If you intend to place a cache in a body of water on private property you must ask permission first.  If you place a cache in a body of water on public lands, contact the land manager first to find out about any rules or restrictions.
3. Will the location placement cause any unnecessary concern?  Please use common sense when choosing a location for your cache.  Do not design your cache such that it might be confused with something more dangerous and make sure that your placement does not endanger the DiveCacher seeking it!

As the owner of the cache you are ultimately responsible for it, so make sure you know and obey the rules for the area where you place it.  Keep in mind that this should be a fun experience for the cacher seeking your container – pick a unique but safely accessible location, one that is scenic but challenging, and fun!

Time to Hide Your Cache

On the dive site: before submerging the DiveCacher should determine and record their surface coordinates using a surface-based GPS device (called “Waymarking”).  Measuring coordinates can be accomplished from a boat or dive float.

DiveCaches should be placed at least 0.1 miles from other dive caches or other geocaches.  This will help prevent confusion and will help prevent overcrowding of the caches.

The standard geographic coordinate system for DiveCaching is latitude and longitude.  Latitude and longitude lines are typically measured in degrees, minutes and seconds, but in geo caching and dive caching, latitude and longitude are recorded and displayed in degrees and decimal minutes.  On geocaching.com and on other websites, instead of the full degrees, minutes and seconds, coordinates are generally posted in decimal minutes.  The GPS can usually be altered in the set-up menu to display the coordinates in the appropriate format, and many GPS models designed for geocaching will use the digital-minutes format as their default setting.

Note: Although it is now possible for some of the newer GPS devices to provide coordinates underwater, until these become commonplace it is recommended that DiveCaches be marked and coordinates listed using a surface-based GPS device.  This will make the location of these caches accessible to more divers.

Caches should be hidden with care so as not to damage any fragile underwater habitat or environment.  In addition, prior to hiding the container, make sure that the owner of the property or the government entity in charge of the dive site will allow s cache to be hidden there.  To ensure that no damage is done to the environment, take the following into consideration before attempting to hide a DiveCache:

CONTAINER – should be an environmentally friendly container that will hold up for a while.  Some comments on the container for consideration:

• Consider plastic/PVC pipe, at least 3 inches wide.  Capped at one end with a screw cap on the other end.  Installing a “handle” to make it easier to open and close might be helpful.
• “Tupperware” or plastic-type receptacles with a secure “snap” lid to prevent it from accidentally opening are sometimes used
• Metal is discouraged as it will oxidize/corrode and this may have a detrimental effect on the environment
• The container will be submerged and will likely be opened underwater.  Rather than attempting to keep the container airtight, it is better to assume that the container will be flooded.  Use only objects that can allow for easy water flow in and out.

LOG – should be environmentally friendly and allow writing with a common pencil

• Plastic slate – these are easy to find in any dive center, but size will limit the number of cachers logging the find
• Mylar or thin sheet plastic – Mylar or other thin plastic sheets can easily be cut into two-inch wide strips and rolled up/ placed into a plastic zip lock bag or into the PVC pipe container.  Because the roll can be long and still be rolled into a smaller size, the Mylar log can hold many signatures
• Another option is just allow the DiveCacher to log the visit online and not include a log.

SECURING THE DIVE CACHE – securing the DiveCache will probably require weights to prevent the cache’s movement and loss

• Any sort of weight should be shielded and sealed in heavy environmentally-friendly plastic or other material
• Fishing weights or dive weights which have been dipped in liquid rubber material and sealed
• Clean concrete blocks may be useful in some circumstances
• In some locations such as wrecks, physically attaching the container to a bottom substrate may be appropriate.  Do not attach a cache to any sensitive bottom substrate or structure when doing so might cause environmental damage.

SWAG – DiveCachers do their best to self-regulate their sport to keep the activity in a positive light, and because this is a family activity, obeying laws and applying common sense to the items placed in the cache is important.  Never include inappropriate items such as alcohol, knives, drugs or pornographic items.  Here are some examples of materials found in a DiveCaches:

• Old Casio dive watch (needs a new battery)
• 1 CD-ROM with MP3 reading of The Hobbit 1
• Golf ball
• 3 1/2″ diskette case (no diskettes)
• 1956 penny
• 1998 Columbia Cup boat race pin
• Budweiser bottle cap remover keychain
• Nail file
• Dollar Bill (If you take it, log it in at wheresgeorge.com)
• Microsoft Keychain
• Disney rabbit character keychain
• Euro coin
• Crystal of pyrite
• Quartzite stone

There are some special items that are sometimes added to caches.  These can be used for all sorts of different games.  Examples include trackable coins and tags, poker cards and other items.  These items are described in greater detail below.

WRITING INSTRUMENTS – most scuba caches should indicate that the diver should bring their own pencil with which to log their visit.

• Wooden pencils can be included, but the wood will eventually deteriorate and the pencil could float away when the cache is opened if it is not secured.
• Mechanical pencils generally have metal moving parts that will corrode and should not be used.  If a mechanical pencil with plastic moving parts can be found, this may be useful.
• Grease pencils are another possibility

Waymarking the Cache A Second Time

As mentioned it is a good idea to take a GPS reading prior to submerging to hide the DiveCache.  Doing so will give you at least one set of coordinates to relocate the cache.  However it is also a good idea to take a second GPS reading on the location of the item once the item is hidden.  This is a great chance to check the location on the surface directly above the cache where possible, and will help if the cache had to be secured in a location that is slightly different than originally anticipated.

Posting the DiveCache

When you get to an internet connection at home (or even while in the field) you should sign onto www.geocaching.com and prepare to post your cache.

It is up to you to make sure all the cache information is correct.  When a new cache is submitted to geocaching.com, it is reviewed for inaccuracies, bad coordinates, and appropriateness before being posted on the web, but no one from DEMA or Geocaching.com is going to personally dive on the cache to be sure your information is correct before it is approved for posting on the website.  When a DiveCache is submitted for posting it is placed in the Review Queue and marked for the volunteer reviewer of that particular area.  Volunteer cache reviewers have been solicited by the website’s owner and are very familiar with the guidelines for posting as well as special considerations in various areas as to property use and regulations.

Typically caches are reviewed within three to five days (although they are reviewed by volunteers with day jobs so sometimes it takes longer).  It is not uncommon for an experienced reviewer to catch a mistake or omission on your cache page and ask for changes prior to posting.  If there are any concerns the reviewer will address them, send you an email, and wait for your response.  Otherwise they will post your cache for the world to see!  Either way you’ll be notified by email when your cache is published or the reviewer needs more information from you.

Some Important Points to Remember:

• Consider the possible impact of your DiveCache on the environment.  Do no harm!
• Identify your container as a DiveCache or geocache.  Doing so can help avoid having the cache mistakenly removed.
• Do not place DiveCaches on historical or archaeological sites.
• Do not include inappropriate items in the DiveCache.
• Do not place the DiveCache in a location that could compromise safety.
• Do not hide DiveCaches while you are on vacation.  Someone needs to be able to maintain the cache and as owner you need to be available to maintain it on an ongoing basis.
• Do not place DiveCaches that solicit customers or which could be perceived as being posted for religious, political, or social agendas.  DiveCaching is supposed to be a fun activity, not a platform for an “agenda.”