Meet Craig, also known as Seemyshell in the geocaching community. You may know him from his friendly and outgoing social media presence. With a passion for filmmaking, he is a multi-time finalist for the Geocaching International Film Festival (GIFF).

Get to know Seemyshell, from hearing his geocaching origin story to some of his favorite geocaching memories. Let’s get into this heartfelt interview and learn why this game is so special to him.

Geocaching HQ: What’s your background outside of geocaching? Tell us a little bit about yourself!

G’day, I’m a retired police officer of 23 years in Australia; I am also involved in the arts, in filmmaking and acting, for the past 20 years. I am 49 years old and currently living in New Jersey. I moved here 3 years ago after meeting my now wife the day after the GeoWoodstock Giga-Event in Cincinnati. (Yes, she is a geocacher too and has more finds than me)

Geocaching HQ: How and when did you hear about geocaching?

Back in January 2014, I had been going through mental health issues from work and a marriage breakdown, and I only saw my two children every two weeks for the weekend. A friend of mine spoke about this hobby; I downloaded the app, found my first geocache, and was hooked.

I introduced my kids (10yr/8yr) to it that weekend, and we spent many a weekend after that geocaching. It was a great way to get outside and enjoy time with my children. At the same time, I used it when I was alone as an escape from my mental health trauma and troubles that occurred on a daily basis. Since then, I have had another struggling time with PTSD and again used geocaching as a crutch to help me get through the dark times. This is where my latest GIFF entry was derived from.

Geocaching HQ: What’s the story behind your unique geocaching username?

It’s a nickname I got back in my early school days. A substitute teacher did a role call, and due to my name being Craig Michell (C.Michell), the teacher called out “Seemyshell” and the class laughed, so it stuck after that.

Geocaching HQ: When did you start documenting your geocache finds on social media? What’s your favorite part of sharing your adventures online?

Within weeks after starting geocaching, my children would watch and research geocaching videos from Joshua, The Geocaching Vlogger, and GeoPat92. One day, they asked me if they could do videos like them. Due to my interest in film, etc, I encouraged it, and they developed my now ‘Brand’ and catchphrase “Woo hoo hoo,” etc. Early on, documenting the fun was a great way to keep memories alive; I often look back on those videos and remember the fun times I had with my children through geocaching.

Now, I enjoy the connections it creates with other like-minded people all over the world. I have become friends with so many new people, of which I would have never met without geocaching. Who knew that 10 years ago, my son watching The Geocaching Vlogger and me hearing his voice from the living room in Australia would turn into hosting the Treasures of our Town Podcast with him and even recording episodes live at the last two GeoWoodstock Mega-Events.

Geocaching HQ: How and where can people find you and your geocaching content?

I’m on all social media, just search Seemyshell:

TikTok: @seemyshell
Instagram: aussie_geocacher_seemyshell
YouTube: @TheAussieGeocacherSeemyshell
Facebook: theaussiegeocacherseemyshell
X: @Seemyshell

You can also listen to myself and Joshua, The Geocaching Vlogger, on our Treasures of our Town Podcast. I co-host The Geocaching Podcast with Scott Berks and Chad Courtney. I’m a creator/editor of The Geocaching Downunder Podcast.

@seemyshell This Geocache looks like a real bolt. #geocaching #geocache #geocash #findingmoney ♬ how would they know bad girls club – Father Mary

Geocaching HQ: What’s your favorite video you created on TikTok or YouTube?

My favorite and most liked videos on TikTok and YouTube are two very different videos. I have one video on TikTok with almost 10 million views, a 9-second video of a fake bolt geocache (shown above).

But my favorite would have to be my recent GIFF video (Echoes); creating the video was extremely difficult and close to me. I did it for the purpose of my own mental health at the time, not knowing or even caring how it would be received. I was encouraged by my therapist at the time as part of my rehabilitation.

Getting out and doing something you love, all the while with a dark cloud above you, is daunting and scary. But I am so glad I did, especially with the amount of ‘thanks’ I have received from those who watched it. I know that by putting my real self out there, the geocaching community has shown itself to be one that supports and comforts each other—a community unlike any other I have experienced before—and I thank them for that.

Geocaching HQ: We’ve seen many of your GIFF video submissions over the years, including Echoes, Muggle Madness, and Spitting the Dummy. Which video was your favorite to create, and why? Do you have any future GIFF ideas/plans?

I am proud to say that I have five total entries in GIFF over the years, of which I’ve had four finalists! I have a playlist on YouTube with all my GIFF entries, from 2016 with Spitting the Dummy to my most recent with Echoes. I have loved every single video, from developing the story to storyboarding, collaborating, and filming.

I really enjoyed my first of Spitting the Dummy, getting together with fellow geocaching mates, and letting them know the concept and story before having a fun time in the one day of filming it, to then hosting a big GIFF Event (GC6QQHB) with all their families and friends to watch them on the big screen. I still get messages from my Aussie mates asking for royalties as they are still getting recognized for their great involvement in the video.

As for future plans for GIFF, why yes, I have several. In fact, one that I will need lots of help with and another that is developing in my mind after a recent geocacher I met at a Mega-Event gave me some great thoughts.

Geocaching HQ: What tips do you have for geocachers who haven’t submitted a video for GIFF before but want to?

Just do it… If you have an idea and want it to come to fruition, do your research about the different ways to film/edit and have fun creating something that you only once had thought about coming to reality on the big screen.

I had been in many discussions with chooknchunk in the lead-up to last year’s GIFF and helped out with the knowledge of tech, filming types, and editing. They had the idea and made it happen, and subsequently took out the win with a very, very fun and relatable video (Geocare – Home for the aged Geocacher). If you have an idea, write it down and start visualizing how you want it to look on screen!

Geocaching HQ: What is your favorite Geocaching location? Why does it stand out as a favorite?

It’s all about what makes the geocaching location memorable. Is it the incredible geocaches themselves, like the WVTim caches in West Virginia? Is it the locations, like my most recent trip to the UK? Looking over the +700 year old castle ruins while examining the landscape and cliff sides, in order to obtain that Earthcache (Or to create an Earthcache) GCB018H.

Or maybe it’s the locations that bring all your friends together, and you can explore, and enjoy the social side of Geocaching. I’ve really been enjoying the Cache Across America series, grabbing that 1 cache in every state, of which, I have 19 now.

But for me, I’m a social guy, so anytime there is a chance to get together at a Mega-Event, I’ll do my best to be there. From Geowoodstock to Going Caching. Mega-Events are my favorite type of geocache.

Geocaching HQ: What has been your most memorable geocaching moment so far?

It’s funny how I just spoke about Mega-Events and other Events being my favorite type of geocache, but then swing to the other direction for my most memorable moment. It was early in my geocaching days, September of 2015, and I was still struggling with work, divorce, children, etc. I recall being in a very dark place, driving home after saying goodbye to my kids for another two weeks; the thoughts I had were very ‘final.’ I saw a Multi-Cache (GCKWZM) on the way home in the middle of the Australian bush area. I had no idea that this Multi was a turning point in my mental health.

It was a 3-stage Multi-Cache that, in the end, had me laughing, breathing, and crying, but ultimately, that ‘black dog’ had left my side that day. Parking at the start, it was like any other Multi, but this one had me walking through bush, thorns, bright orange mud, hidden waterfalls and tunnels, all the while cleansing me, healing me.

Geocaching HQ: Do you have any words of wisdom to share with the geocaching community?

Everyone has their own struggles and barriers, use this incredible hobby we share to break down those issues and get outside, fresh air and sunshine, and enjoy this life you are living. Cheers!