Two If By Sea Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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A scuba cache in open water. Requires advanced scuba diving skills, access by boat, and exemplary bouyancy control underwater. There is nothing here for non-divers.
Two if By Sea
35 39.154 80 55.743
(Average of 8 readings)
NOTE: This geocache requires the use of scuba. There is nothing to see on the surface.
Scuba diving requires special training and equipment. Please do not attempt to dive until you have completed at least an introductory scuba class and received your certification. If you are interested in learning to dive using scuba, feel free to email me, and I’ll help point you in the right direction.
For those of you who thought that Bluestone Diver: Road to the Abyss was too easy, here’s one that’s more challenging. You’ll have to make your approach via water, so be sure to take appropriate precautions for practicing boating safety. You’ll know that you’re near the dive site when you pass the No Wake Zone buoy and see the dock with the blue sliding board. Anchor on or near the coordinates and do an appropriate deep-water entry.
Despite its shallow depths, this is an advanced dive, with a high difficulty rating due to the silty bottom, low visibility and lack of underwater landmarks. The coordinates are pretty close, being the average of 8 readings. I have re-located the site using the above coordinates. You can also use your compass to find marks on the surface. The end of the nearest dock should be at 70 degrees, with the boat ramp at 110 degrees.
This is a great site to practice your buoyancy control. The depth is approximately 18 ft, so descend for the first 5-10 ft vertically, then finish your descent in a horizontal hover. A bright dive light can be helpful here. Be careful not to disturb the clay bottom, as it will wreck the viz for several minutes. With little current, suspended particles tend to stay suspended for a long time.
The hide is a green Nalgene® bottle. It’s got a DAN sticker on the side. The log is a DiveWrite pad & pencil. Some divers leave it full of water, while others put a small burst of air inside to make it float on its tether line. Just be sure not to add too much air, as I’d like to keep it just slightly positively buoyant. I’ve staked it to the bottom using a 10” plastic spike.
I’ve tried to stay away from submerged tree limbs, but those could appear on their own. Be sure to carry cutting tools to use in the event of entanglement and always fly a dive flag over the site. This hide is in the edge of the central channel in a quiet cove, but I’ve encountered a bit of boat traffic from time to time.
After you find the hide, be sure to log it here. Many people have logged Bluestone Diver: Road to the Abyss at the site and never logged it at www.geocaching.com.
I welcome your comments.
Safe ascents,
Grier
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Lbh xabj lbh’er va gur evtug cynpr jura lbh ernpu gur pynl syngf. Irel yvggyr obggbz pbagbhe, nyzbfg ab yvzof, ebbgf be ebpxf. Vs lbh qba’g qvfgheo gur obggbz, vg’f cerggl rnfl gb svaq.