The area around the Craigflower Schoolhouse is perfect for diving. A sandy beach along the water's edge provides easy access....The water quickly deepens to 18 to 20 feet at high tide and is gin clear. It is easy to imagine little persons in the 1850's, at recess sipping a soda & tossing it as far as their little arms could into the drink.
To my knowledge the upper waterway has two other prime areas to search for old glass. I found one site simply by walking along the waterway looking for the obvious. I spotted bricks ~ whole & broken at the water's edge. There was also broken china plate. This area was either a dump site for a demolished building or the site of the building itself.
I hobbled over the embankment & waded out into deeper water. There was a slack tide & one must take advantage of the situation while the waters are still. The channel side of the river was opposite my entry point …..isn't it always. I left my tanks along the shore & free dove looking for bottles. Zipping through the water like a seal, unimpeded by tank, buoyancy compensator & regulator... I came upon a large shoal. I saw a depression with several bottles. New bottles lay next to old bottles. I picked up each bottle with scrutiny. It wasn't long & I was exhausted.. The current had increased to a marathon & I was bushed....still I had found several good bottles. The best was an A. Phillips & Son Victoria V.I. soda....You might notice that salt water bottles often have a overall satin finish to them. A quick tumble will remove this. If you are like me... leave it. I also like oyster shells and marine growth as long as it enhances the bottles appearance...its and artsy-kind of thing. Eye of the beholder & all that.
British Columbia has been very good to me.....I truly appreciate this gift....from the fellowship of the treasure hunting community to the shear moment of discovery...I am one lucky man.[
]
Alexander Phillips & Son...1879-1896
Thorpe & Co Victoria 1892-1923
Chis Morley 1874-1891
To my knowledge the upper waterway has two other prime areas to search for old glass. I found one site simply by walking along the waterway looking for the obvious. I spotted bricks ~ whole & broken at the water's edge. There was also broken china plate. This area was either a dump site for a demolished building or the site of the building itself.
I hobbled over the embankment & waded out into deeper water. There was a slack tide & one must take advantage of the situation while the waters are still. The channel side of the river was opposite my entry point …..isn't it always. I left my tanks along the shore & free dove looking for bottles. Zipping through the water like a seal, unimpeded by tank, buoyancy compensator & regulator... I came upon a large shoal. I saw a depression with several bottles. New bottles lay next to old bottles. I picked up each bottle with scrutiny. It wasn't long & I was exhausted.. The current had increased to a marathon & I was bushed....still I had found several good bottles. The best was an A. Phillips & Son Victoria V.I. soda....You might notice that salt water bottles often have a overall satin finish to them. A quick tumble will remove this. If you are like me... leave it. I also like oyster shells and marine growth as long as it enhances the bottles appearance...its and artsy-kind of thing. Eye of the beholder & all that.
British Columbia has been very good to me.....I truly appreciate this gift....from the fellowship of the treasure hunting community to the shear moment of discovery...I am one lucky man.[
]Alexander Phillips & Son...1879-1896
Thorpe & Co Victoria 1892-1923
Chis Morley 1874-1891
