Dos and Don’ts for Underwater Search & Recovery

Summer is officially here, and Christmas is just around the corner! Which means there is no better time to go out and enjoy the water.

While you are in the water, it’s always important to keep any pockets you have zipped up at all times. There’s nothing worse than dropping an item of yours in the water – whether that be a wedding ring, your car keys or any other valuable item that you’ll definitely want back.

If you have recently dropped something valuable in the water or do end up dropping something over the holiday and summer period, this blog is for you! We are going to give you a step-by-step guide to help you find your item in the water.

Step #1 – The very first thing you need to do after dropping an item in the water is marking the exact location.

Step #2 – You need to get a better understanding of the depth of the water. If it’s less than 3 meters in clear water, you can definitely try and jump in to try and find it (this is of course if you’re a confident swimmer). If the water is murky or more than 3 meters deep, it’s best to grab your scuba gear and go for a dive.

Step #3 – If you’re jumping into dirty water, it’s important to not get into the water directly where you dropped your item. Jumping into the water will make it even dirtier and it’ll take around 30 minutes for the water to calm down.

You should get into the water as slow as possible and at least 5 meters away from where you dropped your item. This will prevent the mud at the bottom to move around. Try and move as slow as possible towards the direction of where you dropped the item. Cover as much area as you can and hopefully, you’ll be able to find it! There’s no doubt that it’s a challenging task, however, if you find your item, it’ll all be worth it.

Here are a few extra tips to consider before jumping into the water:

Tip #1 – If your item is not neutral in buoyancy, it’ll be almost impossible to find.

Tip #2 – Don’t try and use any form of hook to try and pick up your item as you might just bury it further into the mud or sand.

Tip #3 – Always have someone with you on the surface to help you if you need. It’s also a good idea to have another diver with you if you are planning on using any scuba gear.

Tip #4 – If the item is too far gone and out of your capability to try and find, call a professional diver to help you ASAP.

Tip #5 – If you ever feel dizzy, get out of the water straight away! Mucky water can cause a loss of direction and dizziness.

Our Underwater Search & Recovery Services

Our team at Dolphin Dive Services has years of experience in underwater search and recovery. So, if you ever need assistance locating and recovering any item underwater, we are more than happy to help!

Don’t hesitate to contact us 0466 188 461. We can find your item for you!