No matter what kind of underwater feats you are hoping to accomplish, the right equipment and tools will make the entire process a whole lot simpler. While there are all kinds of specialized tools available, and while those are ideal for professionals, beginning searchers can use some tools that can be found as close to home as your local hardware store. Here are some ideas to help you get started.
Before You Get Started
Before you get started, be sure to arm yourself with some high gloss paint in bright colors that will be easy to see underwater. You’re going to want to paint your tools, and you are going to want to make them identifiable as being your personal property. Add glow in the dark bands, and don’t forget to add “idiot cords” – tethers to secure equipment to yourself in case it’s dropped. Next, start shopping for the tools you’ll need – you may already have some of them in your garage!
Essential Tools and Other Equipment
Screwdrivers, hacksaws, pliers, hammers, crowbars, and wrenches can all come in handy underwater, and so can basic nylon rope in different sizes. This type of rope is available in bright colors, and it is inexpensive. Some other tools and equipment you should equip yourself include the following:
• Probe Rods – simple rods constructed of quarter-inch steel, about 24 inches long, these rods allow divers to prod the bottom to uncover items which are buried under silt or sand. Screwdrivers make great probes, too.
• Slates – carrying a slate makes communication between divers much easier, faster, and more effective. Be sure to carry extra grease pencils in case you drop one.
• Clips and rings of all kinds can prove useful for all sorts of applications, from attaching lift bags, to securing tools to yourself. Get different sizes and keep moving parts well lubricated.
• Lift bags, small and large, are also essential; there are resources available which provide detailed instructions for making your own. Be sure to carry extra air for lift bags to avoid expending your own supply too quickly.
• Underwater metal detectors are now less costly than they once were, although some of the nicest models still cost a pretty penny. Some are designed to seek ordinary base metals, while others are specifically for finding precious metals.
• Lights, Compasses, and Buddy Lines – Essentials that should never be left behind, no matter what the situation. Be sure you carry redundant equipment at all times.
• Markers – Make your own surface marker buoys out of old bottles, and make additional weighted markers with floats to mark items of interest as well as to delineate areas that have already been searched. Using old coat hangers and other goodies from the closet or garage saves money and provides effective marking. Again, be sure to use brightly colored paint when you make your markers.
These are just a few tools that will make searching for anything from treasure to a debris trail left behind by a wreck simpler. Remember to always have a plan before you begin, and don’t forget your camera. It will allow you to photograph items you find in their original position, enabling you to make sense of the clues you find.