Gold Dredge for jewelry?

[Underwater Locksmith]

Did a recovery dive for a wedding ring last week. Have plenty of experience and success with uw metal detectors. But this was at 25' 0 vis., with about 18 inches of SLUDGE for a bottom. No Luck! Even had an exact drop point (under a dock)
Wondering if a dredge would have done better. Anyone ever tried a gold dredge looking for jewelry around docks or rope swings? What would be a good size to consider? What would be the max working depth?

Thanks
Holt

 

[Doc]

And... any permitting required?

 

[vladimir]

And... any permitting required?

Good point. It seems like indiscriminate dredging around pilings could easily undermine the stability of the pier.

 

[lowviz]

Did a recovery dive for a wedding ring last week. Have plenty of experience and success with uw metal detectors. But this was at 25' 0 vis., with about 18 inches of SLUDGE for a bottom. No Luck! Even had an exact drop point (under a dock)
Wondering if a dredge would have done better. Anyone ever tried a gold dredge looking for jewelry around docks or rope swings? What would be a good size to consider? What would be the max working depth?

Thanks
Holt

Just read your bio, interesting.

Dredges are effective but come with problems. A surface pump is most effective but comes with a lot of overhead. An air powered dredge works for a while, it is something to consider if you know exactly where to look. You can find simple plans online. Both are cumbersome and unless you have a long outlet, either one will rapidly put you into a zero visibility situation unless there is some current.

A much more effective (and far 'cooler') approach is to train yourself how to search with a real measure of accuracy. I keep my http://teamlgs.com/ ACUC Search and Rescue/Recovery cert. current mostly because the training is truly superior, very different, and a lot of fun. One of the lead instructors prides herself in "finding all the teeth". (I won't go any farther with this) They train PSD's all over the country, wait until an open class is near enough to you and call the host. Definitely worth a 'field trip'. You pay a reasonable amount for the course and it offsets the PSD organization's fixed cost.

 

[Lee Taylor]

Might want to look into Magnetometers