River diving treasure hunt

I went on a treasure hunt / dive last weekend in a river through a ravine. I planned the dive with maps and did all the pre dive checks. But what I failed to do was talk to the locals in the area. Big big mistake on my part. We entered the river in such a way that there was no way to get back out, so we were committed. The minute we hit the water we realized it was a mistake. We enflated our BC (an air inflated vest) and tried to slip through the rocks. One diver, my brother Jeff, had to jetison his weight belt and also lost his fins. I had a chunk taken out of the search coil of my Garrett Sea Hunter metal detector. All my straps had been secured in predive but the violent waters ripped the lanyard from my air gauge and jammed in the rocks. I face planted the ledge when it came up short on the lanyard. My brother parted the lanyard setting me free. When we exited the ravine all three divers were brused, sore and exhausted from the ordeal. A local that saw us leaving the waters said "no one dives the ravine until july, too dangerous." So folks please talk to the locals when ever you are in a new area. We got lucky, you might not. I am an experanced diver, but I mad some stupid choices. I got blinded by the excitment of treasure hunting.

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Great advice! 

Are you planning on going back?

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Yes we will be returning in the early fall. I have since learned that a small underwater cave is in there. It is not very far in so I want to stick my head in and look around. I'll keep you posted on what I find. Thanks

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Wow,

That was some river hunt.

One of tha best ways to

learn is by experience.

It can be painful at times,

Tabdog

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