---WARNING!!!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an UNDERWATER cache that requires special equipment and skills to access. DO NOT try to reach stage one of this multi-cache if you are not a trained and properly equipped SCUBA diver. DO NOT try to access this cache alone, without a team or a buddy diver. Diving is dangerous and can cause death or serious injury if not done properly. The cache owners and Geocaching.com are not responsible for any accident or injury related to trying to find this or any other cache. All risks taken are solely the responsibility of the person(s) performing the search.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now that the legal business is taken care of...
This area is famous for the many man-made lakes from flooded iron ore mines. The water clarity in the flooded mines is some of the best in the mid west. This, coupled with almost zero boat traffic makes the area a favorite for fresh water divers from all over.
We have been watching for someone to place a SCUBA cache in this area for a long time, and finally decided to try it ourselves. We hope you enjoy the hunt as much as we did in finding a location and placing this cache.
Many thanks go to my son (scubathain), my son-in-law (Gone_Hunting), and my wife and caching partner (Lady In Orange) for their assistance in placing this cache! We would also like to thank the DNR staff at the Cuyuna State Recreation Area for their help and support to promote both scuba diving and geocaching in this beautiful area! And finally, we want to thank Amy, a good friend and fellow geocacher, for her assistance in the design and creation of the waterproof label used on the underwater cache monument!
This is a two part multi-cache. The first (supplied) coordinates are for the underwater component. The second component that holds the logbook is located on land. The first cache is located a short swim from the supplied parking area at a depth of around 25 feet. In midsummer this is very near the thermocline, so a wet suit is recommended. For those new to scuba caches, one tip is to bring an inner-tube style float for your dive flag. You can use this to hold your GPS during the hunt for GZ. Then when you have found the area, leave the GPS up topside (they do NOT work underwater!!) and descend to the area to search. Once you find the cache DO NOT remove it! If you lose the initial location it will be very hard to replace it in the correct spot!
The cache is an underwater monument with a printed label that holds a "KEY"(offset coordinates) that MUST BE RECORDED by the finder. These coordinates are needed to find the second cache located on land that holds the log book. IMPORTANT - BRING A WAY TO RECORD THE OFFSET COORDINATES, SUCH AS A WATERPROOF PENCIL AND WRITING TABLET OR AN UNDERWATER CAMERA!! Once you learn the coordinate offsets, use the table and instructions below to compute the coordinates of the second cache container where the log is located.
1) Take the “keys” (offset coordinates read from the underwater marker) and ADD them to the actual coordinates of the underwater marker (given above on the cache page).
2) Take CORRECTION COORDINATES given below and SUBTRACT them from the results you got in step one. This will give you the actual coordinates for the container with the log!
NOTE: The CORRECTION COORDINATES are: N 00 00.142, W 00 00.098
Use this table to compute the coordinates of the cache containing the logbook:
|
Coordinates of Cache Part 1:
|
|
N 46 29.053
|
W 094 00.269
|
(Given)
|
|
Keys read from underwater monument:
|
+
|
|
|
(must find)
|
|
Result from step one:
|
|
|
|
(computed)
|
|
Correction Coordinates:
|
-
|
N 00 00.142
|
W 000 00.098
|
(given)
|
|
Cache Part 2 coordinates:
|
|
|
|
(computed)
|
An example of how to use the table is given below, with fake "Key" coordinates of course, so the answer is not the real coordinates!)
|
Coordinates of Cache Part 1:
|
|
N 46 29.053
|
W 094 00.269
|
(Given)
|
|
Keys read from underwater monument:
|
+
|
N 00 00.022
|
W 000 00.333
|
(must find)
|
|
Result from step one:
|
|
N 46 29.075
|
W 094 00.602
|
(computed)
|
|
Correction Coordinates:
|
-
|
N 00 00.142
|
W 000 00.098
|
(given)
|
|
Cache Part 2 coordinates:
|
|
N 46 28.933
|
W 094 00.504
|
(computed)
|
Note - the Cache Part 2 container is near the parking area so that you can easily find it after you return to shore. We recommend you wait until after you remove your scuba gear before trying to find part two, due to the rough terrain.
Since this is a SCUBA cache that requires multiple people for safety, team caching is welcomed and encouraged. Not all team members must reach stage one to sign the log at stage two, as long as they were there to support the search! Be sure to mention that you are a member of a team to be properly credited!
Pictures are welcome! If you have an underwater camera please post any interesting shots you take - as many as you wish! Please do not post pictures of the containers, or any spoilers!
Good luck in your search!
BaltaTheWolf, scubathain, Lady In Orange, and Gone_Hunting