This cache is located in ten metres of water very close to a
frequently dived wreck, just off the Dubai coastline. You will need
to be a suitably qualified scuba diver with a dive buddy and
possess the appropriate equipment to find this. You will also need
to get to the site by boat; it is too far to swim from shore.
It is not a difficult dive but, given that the underwater
visibility is just a couple of metres, this will test your skills
as a “search and recovery” diver. There is also a noticeable
current running at mid tide.
The cache is a plastic box weighted down by two dive weights. It
is in a hole in the sand and covered by a slab of concrete. There
is also a breeze block on top of it. You will need to turn the slab
over to find the cache. Please replace the slab when you have
finished – note that there is an eight digit number on the bottom
of the slab. When you leave, please make sure that you replace the
slab so that the numbers are face downwards.
Some warnings:
- The slab is heavy, almost 40 kg. Be careful when turning it
over.
- Wear gloves for this dive or you will end up with cut
hands.
- Beware of what else you may find under the slab. There are sea
urchins, lion fish and scorpion fish in the area. As soon as you
move the stab visibility will drop to zero.
Hints on finding it
Do not expect to see a paving slab or a breeze block! These have
been under water for over two years now and have collected a fair
amount of growth. However the outline shape is still clearly
recognisable. Be prepared to carefully examine anything you find.
I know that there has been a number of unsuccessful searches.
We've now searched for and found the site on three separate
occasions just using the coordinates. Each time we've found it very
quickly.
Opening the Cache
Open the cache back on the boat. (Don't forget to first mark the
site with a float so you can find it again!). We have placed all of
the contents into bags or glass jars, made them negatively buoyant
and filled them with fresh water. This is to stop them from
floating away or getting covered in marine growth. The box itself
was filled with fresh water and sealed with sets of cable ties.
These will need to be cut off. You'll need to replace these with
six long new ones.
Please also fill all jars and the box itself with fresh water
before sealing it. This is easiest to do by assembling everything
in a large bucket of fresh water.
If you plan on leaving an item, make sure that it too, is
negatively buoyant.
Sign the slate in pencil which you'll need to provide.
Originally we left one in the box but we found that they
disintegrate with time.
The contents at time of writing are:
- A Beautiful Mermaid waiting to be rescued
- US military approved rescue whistle – this is extremely
loud!
- Watch band temperature gauge
- Silver ring set with amber
- Two fashion rings (plastic)
- 20 Dirham bank note (in excellent condition despite two years
under water
- A selection of coins from various countries
- Jazz Playing Frog Travel Bug.
- Lion Fish (plastic 3D puzzle – not a real one!)
- A set of underwater battens
- A set of Desert Challenge Key fobs (see below). Please do not
take more than one of these per dive trip – leave the rest for
future finders
The dive slate and weights are not for trading – please
leave these in the cache!
This cache was placed and maintained (over the years) with the
help of MG, SG, SD, S, LP, DP, WHS, JJ, JO, IO, AR, BR, PJ &
P.
Desert Challenge
This cache is the black key for the
Desert Challenge (GC13B15). The eight digit key is written on
the bottom of the slab. It is also written on the cache itself and
the log slate. There is also a set of black key fobs with the
number written on them. Each fob is in its own glass jar filled
with tap water. Please only take one of these per dive trip
– leave the rest for others to find.
If you find the key please do not publish it on this web
page.
Last Change
Page last edited on 22 November 2009.