Here's a cache for all you
swimming geocachers out there. This is a chance to find a
cache and get your swim workout in, too. We swim here alot,
and it is allowed---Just watch for boaters & windsurfers,
just as you would watch for cars while playing street hockey
on your block---Common sense stuff. SCUBA diving is not
allowed in the bay and not necessary.
illustration by Chris Van Dusen featued in the October 26th,
2003 issue of Los Angeles Times Magazine
See Douglas Page's article online here
Geocaching: You are the Search Engine
We enclosed a mini "Rite in the Rain" log book, sealed inside a
water-proof capsule, with pencils for logging your visit. You may
want to use swim goggles or a mask & snorkle for finding this
one, and a boogie board, kayak, paddleboard, or other flotation
device as a platform to spill out the contents, or make a trip back
to shore.
UPDATE 3/22/08:
Replaced Pelican case with classic PVC
pipe container.
UPDATE 5/27/07:
The container has been changed from a 4"
diam. x 8" long PVC pipe with a screw-on plug-type lid to a
Pelican Case #1020 measuring 6" x 3" x 2". It should
be water-tight, but whatever is inside could get wet. Bring
trades that can withstand saltwater immersion.
UPDATE 4/16/07:
A new buoy has been placed near the cache,
but its concrete anchor is too shallow to be used for the
cache. At low tide it's only a few feet deep. The cache will
remain as is with the 5/5 rating.
UPDATE 6/12/05:
Put cache back in place w/o the buoy.
Difficulty rating raised to 5/5 w/o buoy. Should be approx.
20 yards from the point of the concrete seawall. Once on
bottom, search for cache floating 1 foot off bottom from a
concrete block with small buoy. View photo hints to help
align and narrow the (dive) search area.
TAKE NOTE: It is ALWAYS best to
move to a secluded or neutral spot to go through ANY cache, so as
not to risk having its hiding spot compromised. Treat all caches
like they were your own.
Original contents:
- One Maglite flashlight
- Two rubber swimfin keychains
- Two aluminum keychains
- A compass/thermometer keychain/necklace
- A rubber angel fish
- Some "gold" doubloons (they float)
- A Long Beach Junior Lifeguards patch
- ''Super Grover'' figure
- Various seashells we've collected over the years from Baja,
Hawaii, and locally
IMPORTANT: PLEASE return the
cache as you found it. Enjoy your swim!
(click image)
We never considered placing a tide info link on the cache page,
because it was figured that true swimmers don't worry about a few
feet difference in the depth. But Dino (K6RIX) has persisted in
begging us to post a link for those who are slightly
swim-challenged:
Long Beach Harbor Tide
Tables