Interesting new find at Casperson

[thedaddy]

I don't know if the pics will come through, but I found another item last week on Casperson beach I'd never seen before. The vis was blown out so I was wandering the beach and came across a little electronic gizmo (pics attached) in a sealed plastic envelope with a note to contact a professor at UA Birmingham. I googled him and then called - turns out he does sea turtle research in co-op with MOTE and it's a device to log beach temps (which influence sea turtle gender). He said they usually bury them with one of those golf balls with an embedded transponder chip so they can locate them after their life cycle ends (about 4 months). I guess the rough weather washed it out of it's hidey hole on the beach.

I've found .50 cal shells, ski tow ropes, etc, etc, but never something like this. I'm mailing it back today. Good cause and he seems like a nice guy - sent a t-shirt for my daughter and an old non-functional device for my son to take to school for science class. Thought the comunity here might be interested.

 

[Timoblue]

Looks like something 'Q' would offer up for James Bond - Nice of the guy to send the t-shirt for your daughter.
Wonder how expensive something like that is.

Curious about the .50 cal shells

 

[Sh@rkW@tcher]

Looks like something 'Q' would offer up for James Bond - Nice of the guy to send the t-shirt for your daughter.
Wonder how expensive something like that is.

Curious about the .50 cal shells

The SRQ airport was an Army Air Corp base during WW II, with a P 51 squadron and a B 17 training group. They conducted gunnery drills offshore. I'm betting the .50 shell ended up on the beach as a result of the beach renourishment projects after being dredged from offshore.

 

[catra8104]

Neat device... I wonder what the results will be?? Do we produce more boy or girl turtles??

 

[thedaddy]

Actually, the .50s I found off of Alahambra in about 18fsw while tooth diving. Several other people have found them as well. The source is, I believe the aircraft gunnery practice as MoteMan mentioned. Neat finds, but I'd rather a mammoth tooth. ;~)

I agree, the logger looked pretty cool and the one he sent me wasn't as well made, but still neat. My son really wanted to keep and dismantle the one I found until I explained the research and the possible value inherent in returning it. At least the trip wasn't a total loss - no diving due to vis, but I found the logger and a few teeth and manatee fragments on the beach (gave them away to some UK tourist children). Lots of scenery with all the ladies out in their new bikinis. I also got a chance to visit the various beaches, which I never seem to have time for as I'm always trying to max out my time underwater. The dog park was pretty neat. I thought about going over to Arcadia for some Peace river action, but I didn't have a screen or shovel with me.

If you want to look up his work on google, his name is Dr. Thane Wibbels and he works for UA Birmingham and MOTE for sea turtle conservation.

 

[catra8104]

Thanks for the info on the Dr., and a great lesson for your son.. He can take the new one apart to see how it works.. Very cool...

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Very cool!
My best find of late while beach diving was a bowling ball.

 

[thedaddy]

Very cool!
My best find of late while beach diving was a bowling ball.

Hey Jenny! Long time no talk/see! Don't tell me you dragged a bowling ball back with you. Might make a cool addition to the 'finds' wall though.

I really miss you, Colin, Jeff, and the rest. Haven't been diving much this winter - the 5 mil still has tags on it. Life happens you know.

Off topic, but have you and the hermit crab been diving much? I'm trying to get my boy to go get cert'd, but he is more interested in fishing right now (dangled the spearfishing carrot, but he's not excited enough for me to push it right now). I was impressed when I saw she completed her course - very cool.

I plan on spending as much time in Venice as possible this spring/summer, with maybe a trip or two over to LBTS and BHB (never done them before) and maybe a couple of springs trips so I hope I see you all around.

BTW, if you see Colin, tell him Katie won FL state wrestling champ for 112lb. Bear cub's starting to grow teeth!

Good to hear from you!
Steve

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

You definately HAVE to come over and dive with us East coasters!
Hermit Crab is certified!

Off to Ginnie right now.. with marshmallow guns!!! You rock!!!!!