Dive News Network

Social Media Website promotes Local Diving

A social media website for scuba divers, DiveJunkee.com, is promoting its community services, both under the waves and behind the keyboard, in a unique and innovative way. The Second Annual Scuba Cache Challenge and Treasure Hunt is a friendly competitions spread across six frequently explored wreck sites in the St. Lawrence River and Alexandria Bay area in both US and Canadian waters. The aim of this program, inspired by geocaching, is to invigorate divers to find adventures in their own backyards and abroad.

According to site founder and event organizer Scott Vincent-Barwood, the contest is designed to promote local diving and encourage divers to get out and enjoy the sport. Barwood is posting clues to the locations of the caches; divers who successfully solve the puzzle will uncover riches hidden below. “Deciphering the clues involves some research on these wreck sites, along with a familiarity with navigating marine charts,” Barwood explains.

The first buddy team to reach each of the six caches will discover two cloth bags of $25 gold coins contained in steel munitions boxes. Also inside the box will be a placard displaying directions to take a photograph at the dive site as proof. Treasure hunters will then be directed to email the photo to the website administrator. The first buddy pair to find all six caches in numerical order will get the grand prize: $150 dollars, an Argonaut dive watch, and listing as “first place Treasure Hunters”. There will be additional awards for 2nd and 3rd prizes.

In order to participate in the hunt, divers must register with a buddy on the DiveJunkee website and pay an entry fee of $75 per pair. Each pair must create a team name along with an accompanying “avatar”, which will be left in each cache as proof of discovery. The avatar must be small, heavy, and waterproof.

A veteran in the dive industry, as a charter boat captain on the St. Lawrence River and a former commercial diving instructor, Barwood believes the program will incentive divers to explore nearby sites. “This program promotes and encourages local diving,” Barwood continues. “Hopefully divers will be inspired by this cool treasure hunt!”

Helen Fowler from ABUCS Scuba Charter in Brockville, Ontario, is excited to see this program take flight. A good friend of Barwood for many years, she has helped support his efforts and encourages local divers to take part in the challenge. “They can have some fun and find some cash – sounds like fun to me!” she exclaims.

The hunt begins May 15 and ends September 15, so be sure to register soon! For more information, and to fill out your application, visit www.DiveJunkee.com.