Fossil Hunting

Most of us grow up with the dream of one day finding hidden treasures, and for divers this is often a dream that is attempted to be turned into a reality. The oceans are home to countless shipwrecks and treasures, but treasure need not be man-made, the ocean is riddled with millions of fossils, many of which are with no doubt yet to be discovered. Species of marine life we have little to no knowledge of at present are all waiting in fossil form somewhere at the bottom of the ocean.

In most cases the best part about fossil finding is the fact that you are able to help the process of scientific discovery and who knows, come across something big and you may well get some fame to go with it. Marine archaeologists are always looking to find pieces to the puzzles of the underwater kingdom, as so much has been lost through hundreds of millions of years. Every little piece could be vital in the process of helping mankind uncover the mysteries to a certain species, and every new species that is discovered helps us understand the happenings of the past that much better.

So you want to go fossil hunting?

The best part about fossil hunting is the fact that you don't really need anything besides your normal scuba diving gear and then knowledge of what you are looking for. Granted there are places where fossil hunting is a lot better than others and in most places you won't get as lucky as Venice, Florida.

The main component you will need when fossil diving is patience, but the result is well worth the wait and sometimes the disappointment. You will also probably need to find a captain who is willing to wait patiently for you while you scan the ocean floor. The best is to find a friend who is also interested in fossil hunting who has a boat, this way the two of you can take turns.

Where to go fossil hunting?

There is one place that stands out about the rest for fossil hunting and that's Venice, Florida- in the United States. The visibility is quite decent, the topography of the ocean floor is in most times quite flat and consists of small rocks and shells. This is one of the best places for diving for shark teeth. It is definitely the most highly recommended fossil hunting location. Venice is located on the western side of the state of Florida, and you will be diving in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

What to look for?

Teeth - The most commonly sought after fossil is probably the Megalodon tooth (as can be seen at the start of the article), a prehistoric shark which dwarfs the Great White in size. These large sharks had teeth which can exceed the size of a grown male's palm. Other shark teeth are also often collected, though less prized than the Megalodon.

Bones - A fairly common find in the ocean is bones, whether they be from a whale, dugong or something else. Occasionally you will even find the remains of land animals such as horses. There are places where you can get your fossils examined free of charge and find out exactly what they are from.

Ivory - One is able to also occasionally find tusk remains of Mammoths and Mastadons, these remains are also fairly sought after due to rarity.

Ammonites - An extinct cephalopod which I personally find quite interesting, probably because of its likeness to the general cliché idea of what fossils look like. They are extremely rare to find, and even rarer to find in good condition.

These are just some of the different types of fossils one is able to come across when hunting for fossils.

How to hunt?

The process of fossil hunting in itself generally takes place in fairly shallow waters, as you will want a maximum amount of dive time, though not too shallow as to it being unlikely for you to discovery anything worthwhile.

When one has reached the ocean floor, you can begin scanning for any interesting looking objects. One needs quite a sharp eye, and if one wears glasses it is recommended they put on their prescription mask.

The best way is probably to swim slowly forward, close to the ocean floor while scanning left and right while doing so. Should you see something which looks darker than the other shells and debris on the bottom, go over and take a closer look, remember that if it's nothing you can always put it back- but rather be safe than sorry and miss out on something.

You will likely encounter many chipped Megalodon teeth- these, while still collectable are far less treasured than finding a complete tooth.

The best way to learn to differentiate between fossil and non-fossil debris is to practice, after a while you will learn to distinguish the difference a lot quicker. This will result is you wielding more fossils in the end of the day.

Below is a video of Megalodon tooth fossil hunting in Venice, Florida.

MEG tooth diving with Capt Jamie on Aristakat from Jim Ridgway on Vimeo.

Remember that while fossil collecting is legal for the most parts there are places where it has been banned, so make sure to check up with the local laws beforehand.

Also keep the basic diving motto at heart, YOU are the guest. So be sure to think about the ocean above yourself, and be sure that all fossil hunting is practiced in accordance to the ethical values of scuba diving.

Apart from that though, happy hunting!