The Most Wrecks in a River System

[moosicman]

I live in Bainbridge, Georgia and over the weekend I volunteered at a River Run race for the Kiwanas Club at the Boat Basin on the Flint River. There was a historic marker at the Boat Basin dock about the steam boats that worked the river long, long ago. The marker also said that this area of the Flint was widely known to have the most sunken ships per foot (or something to that effect, I don't remember the exact phrase). So I got to thinking that there may be some pretty neat finds laying on the bottom of the Flint. It may be a long shot but have any of you guys ever heard about such or done any diving on the Flint. I'm not too crazy about diving in the river, as it can be very poor vis. but it did get me to thinking.

[mitsuguy]

Originally Posted by moosicman

I live in Bainbridge, Georgia and over the weekend I volunteered at a River Run race for the Kiwanas Club at the Boat Basin on the Flint River. There was a historic marker at the Boat Basin dock about the steam boats that worked the river long, long ago. The marker also said that this area of the Flint was widely known to have the most sunken ships per foot (or something to that effect, I don't remember the exact phrase). So I got to thinking that there may be some pretty neat finds laying on the bottom of the Flint. It may be a long shot but have any of you guys ever heard about such or done any diving on the Flint. I'm not too crazy about diving in the river, as it can be very poor vis. but it did get me to thinking.

keep in mind I have never been diving in a big river, but, a recent discovery channel show comes to mind about the Missouri river... Now, the Missouri is a nasty dirty river, but the show focused on one particular boat that sunk a hundred plus years ago, anyways, they showed where it is currently, and all you can see is some wooden planks sticking up from the mud... that was part of the problem with those old boats - wood definitely doesn't hold up as well as steel, and none of them were steel...

[cummings66]

Yeah, a few years back we had some real low water levels and it turns out that this old boat sunk and was buried. Later on the water receded and the boat or what was left of it became visible.

Kind of like Monte Ne. A nice place to see, but a terrible place to dive.

[Bert]

My LDS does river dives all summer,and they have a large collection of items found. (I am in St Clair Shores, Mi)

[jeepbrew]

I have done plenty of diving in the SE US rivers... the TN more than others. You will have a hard time with viz, but if you like blackwater dives then the rivers are for you. I have found plenty of things: sharks teeth, cannon balls, muskets (& other civil war artifacts), shipwrecks, bottles, anchors, etc... I say dive it and see what you can find. Most of the river diving I have done is with my eyes closed (would rather have them closed then look at mud through my mask) feeling around with my hands (wear gloves!).