Deep Blue Something (GC43K9C) — Geocache of the Week

Geocache_of_the_Week_vFINAL_122314

Dean's Blue Hole Photo by geocacher wiggerl der Bayer
Dean’s Blue Hole Photo by geocacher wiggerl der Bayer

Geocache Name:

Deep Blue Something (GC43K9C)

Difficulty/Terrain Rating:

2/4.5

Why this is the Geocache of the Week:

The Geocache of the Week isn’t always a geocache with tons of finds or Favorite Points—sometimes it’s a cache that’s designed to inspire your next adventure. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, summer is here and visiting a tropical location sounds quite nice. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, you’re in the midst of winter and finding a geocache in a place like the Bahamas probably sounds pretty awesome right about now. At this geocache, you’ll not only see a beautiful location, you’ll also see something you can’t see anywhere else: Dean’s Blue Hole, the deepest salt-water blue hole in the world at 663 ft (200m).

What geocachers have to say:

“Wow! What an amazingly beautiful place. Before I found this cache, I jumped into Dean’s Blue Hole from on top! Surreal! TFTC! :)” – monkey_travels

“Gorgous view! That spot needs a cache! Perfect for snorkeling! Loved it!” – Bobby738

“Awesome place! First time here and won’t be the last! Thanks for the cache!” – rglenn13

What the geocache owner, rockthecachebx, has to say:

My parents live in a little house nearby and we walk down to the Blue Hole just about every day for a snorkel while visiting them. Initially we (husband Jeff and I) wanted to put a cache at the BOTTOM of the hole, 662 feet down, in hopes of it being the longest running undiscovered cache. But we were afraid of the very real possibility that someone might get hurt searching for it and we knew we’d never be able to maintain it at that depth! The name, Deep Blue Something, seemed appropriate and is a nod to a 90s band that was popular in our college days.
We’ve had some great times snorkeling and exploring around Dean’s Blue Hole. I’ve seen Hawksbill sea turtles, upside-down jellyfish and nudibranchs that I included in my obscure animal ABC, P is for Pangolin. There’s a tiny territorial damsel fish that will attack if you swim near his rock at the edge of the cove. Once my husband spotted an adorable baby octopus living in a glass bottle. Swimming across the Blue Hole is a bit eerie. Gazing down into the depths, it is easy to let your imagination run wild, creating fantastic sea monsters, sunken treasure and ghostly forms between shafts of sunlight in the deep blue. Sometimes we visit at night to scare ourselves silly, once we even tied dive lights to a rope and lowered it into the hole to see if we could attract any interesting creatures.
I was surprised that it took over a year for Deep Blue Something to be found! It has been so much fun to read everyone’s logs of adventures at the hole and I love seeing their photos. The location attracts an international crowd. It is a bit of a mecca for the world’s freediving community. The still water and incredible depth make it the perfect place to test human endurance and set world records. I’m a bit surprised that Deep Blue Something is still the only traditional cache on Long Island.
To the Geocaching Community: The place does have a history of tragedies, so swimmers should be cautious and inexperienced swimmers should stick to the shallow parts of the cove. Consider making your visit a CITO visit. Like most islands, Long Island is plagued by plastic rubbish that washes ashore. Locals can point you to the island’s dump which makes an interesting visit in its own right! A note to spearfishers, please target lionfish! This invasive species eats anything that fits in its mouth and is very detrimental to the local ecology. They’re delicious, just watch a YouTube video on safe handling.

 

Photos:

From above. Photo by geocacher Bobby738
From above. Photo by geocacher Bobby738
The blue hole from the beach. Photo by geocacher wiggerl der Bayer
The blue hole from the beach. Photo by geocacher wiggerl der Bayer
And then it just drops off... Photo by geocacher Bobby738
And then it just drops off… Photo by geocacher Bobby738

What’s the most beautiful place geocaching has ever taken you? Post your photos in the comments.

Continue to explore some of the most engaging geocaches around the globe. Check out all the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, just fill out this form. Thanks!

 

 

gigantesque – The Big One (GC5Q8N) – Geocache of the Week

Geocache_of_the_Week_vFINAL_122314

No big deal, just walking into a geocache. Photo by geocacher patafix86
No big deal, just walking into a geocache. Photo by geocacher patafix86

Geocache Name:

gigantesque – The Big One (GC5Q8N)

Difficulty/Terrain Rating:

1/1.5

Why this is the Geocache of the Week:

The first souvenir for the Geocaching Road Trip ’15 is Fun with Favorites: find any geocache with 10+ Favorite Points to earn it. After finding this geocache, you’ll not only have the new souvenir, you’ll also be one of the few geocachers who can truthfully say, “I’ve walked around inside a geocache.”

What geocachers have to say:

“What a super cache. Thanks to the owners for allowing it. Must be a tourist pull!Well done Johnny-Vegas. TFTC” – creditdog

“It is a great moment of geocaching and a very beautiful discovery. I do not know how to express all this without revealing it too much. As a result, I would content with inviting the other players to come to discover this “box” and to see what it contains. A warm congratulations and thank you for this outstanding geocache.” – cukcelte

“Wow!!! What a beauty, This must be the largest cache we are ever likely to see. Thanks for the welcome from Johnny Vegas. Nice to have met you. We will try and visit this cache again and bring more stuff.” – DaiGym

What the geocache owner, Johnny-Vegas, has to say:

“I wanted to be more involved with Geocaching so my mind started ticking over with ideas. It’s the way I am, quite imaginative and some say over imaginative!

Our new home came with a 7.5 tonne DAF lorry parked up in the barn. It was registered in the UK and so very difficult to re-register it here in France. There is already plenty of storage and outbuildings so another “store room” was not really required.
I decided to convert the lorry and it’s massive box on the back to be a cache container but I didn’t want it to just look like a half-hearted attempt. So decided to paint it a deep green colour just like an ammo box, I had vinyl lettering made to create a geocaching.com label in extra large letters. Camouflage netting was placed over the cab to “blend” it into the background and a camouflage interior design was created.
I really wanted it to look and feel like a cache container and not the back of an old truck.
With the cache being located within our grounds I get to meet other cachers and share their experiences which is wonderful. Reading their feedback tells me they are really happy with finding the cache (not hard to locate!) but also sharing their excitement with me, it really is great fun.”

Photos:

So, are they considered swag now? Photo by francoizik
So, are they considered swag now? Photo by francoizik
A happy family outside the container. Photo by Les moregans
A happy family outside the container. Photo by Les moregans
A giant logbook to match the cache. Photo by geocacher C2iC
A giant logbook to match the cache. Photo by geocacher C2iC

What’s the largest geocache you’ve ever found? Post your photos in the comments.

Continue to explore some of the most engaging geocaches around the globe. Check out all the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, just fill out this form. Thanks!

 

A photo is worth 1000 finds? – The Mountain of Moonlit Rocks (GC1CB) – Geocache of the Week

Geocache_of_the_Week_vFINAL_122314

Hooray! I'm on a chip! Photo by geocacher rockhoundbmw
Hooray! I’m on a chip! Photo by geocacher rockhoundbmw

Geocache Name:

The Mountain of Moonlit Rocks (GC1CB)

Difficulty/Terrain Rating:

3/3

Why this is the Geocache of the Week:

For some geocaches, the photos you get are just as good as earning another smiley for the find. This just so happens to be one of those geocaches. After you make the beautiful hike up among the boulders, geocachers have the opportunity to take a pretty awesome photo standing on “Potato Chip Rock”. If you’re brave enough to walk out on it, that is. Plus, this geocache also happens to be one of the older geocaches in the world, placed in 2001.

What geocachers have to say:

“Went on a midnight hike up to Potato Chip Rock and found this awesome Cache with an amazing view! TFTC!” – meyerjp

“This was our favorite cache of the day due to its age and the beautiful view from GZ. Thank you so much for putting this cache out and taking us to a real cool place!” – chfshome

“A great morning hike topped off with finding this fun cache! I was with a friend who was new to geocaching and she was thrilled when she was the one to make the find. I think we have a new convert! Thanks for the fun” – Boy&Girl

What the geocache creator, Tuna , has to say:

“On January 5, 2001, I read about this guy named Jeremy Irish in an article in Outside Magazine.  Jeremy was talking about this new hobby called geocaching — only recently enabled by the military making accurate GPS signals available to non-military users.  I visited the brand new geocaching.com website and discovered that there was only one cache in all of San Diego county. So, the next day I installed the second San Diego cache — Double Peak Summit — 320th cache in the world!  That year I went on to stash about 15 caches. I love hiking the mountains and hills in San Diego, and was always looking for scenic places for new caches. I was hiking Woodsen Mountain regularly and stashed The Mountain Of Moonlight Rocks in a quiet out-of-the-way spot.  It’s gratifying to see that many others discovered Woodsen Mountain as a result of that geocache more than a decade ago! “

Photos:

The picture is mandatory, the pose is up to you. Photo by geocacher The JJ Duo
The picture is mandatory, the pose is up to you. Photo by geocacher The JJ Duo
Did anyone bring some guacamole? Photo by geocacher I C IT
Did anyone bring some guacamole? Photo by geocacher I C IT
As the original caption says, "YOLO." Photo by geocacher The Slocums
As the original caption says, “YOLO.” Photo by geocacher The Slocums

Show us your best post-find photo in the comments!

Continue to explore some of the most engaging geocaches around the globe. Check out all the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, just fill out this form. Thanks!

 

 

Post-Apocalyptic geocaching — Red Sands Fort (GC1DVNY) — Geocache of the Week

Geocache_of_the_Week_vFINAL_122314

Fort Red Sands Photo by geocacher Drsdoolittle
Fort Red Sands Photo by geocacher Drsdoolittle

Geocache Name:

Red Sands Fort (GC1DVNY)

Difficulty/Terrain Rating:

3/5

Why this is the Geocache of the Week:

Geocaching takes us to some pretty amazing places and can teach us the history of a location. This geocache takes you 8 miles out to see to a group of abandoned World War 2 era forts that were used to protect London from invasion. The history is incredible, but the view is what makes it worth it. Coming up to these forts evokes an almost post-apocalyptic feeling. The photos remind me of something I would read about in a zombie-survival novel. They’re quite creepy and awesome at the same time.

What geocachers have to say:

“Brilliant cache thanks for bringing me out here. Pics of course and a fav too. Unbelievable that this has only 3 favs so far! Don’t know what it must take for some people to fav a cache!!” – maattmoo

“Ive been after this ever since seeing it existed. Gutted that we didn’t think about the tide and as you can see from the photo, there was no way we were ever going to get on the platform. Out of interest, without any ladder in place is it ever possible? Great cache, which was almost touching distance away!” – Rhinoback

“Thanks for the cache – we are really pleased to be able to give Red Sands it’s 1st favourite point!” – The_Buffs

What the geocache creator, LostInTheWoods! , has to say:

A colleague and I travelled out on the X-Pilot boat. The skipper had arrange the trip so that we could easily access the landing platform. We viewed the radio station and my colleague met many guys that he had visited during his earlier Pirate Radio Chaser years. He recognised them, and they recognised him, immediately. All friends now, thankfully, or we may have had to walk a hastily erected plank. We then had an amazing tour of the WW2 Gun Platform, upper, level. Lovely views that day but not so lovely if you were being straffed by a WW2 figher way back in the 1940’s. It was here that we met the Fort’s sponsor. He was so keen to promote the existance of the Red Sands Fort that he eagerly accepted my request to place a geocache on it.
Like most cache owners, it’s always appreciated when I get detailed descriptions in Found its, DNFs, and Notes relating to this cache and all of my other caches.
I have certainly enjoyed reading all of the Red Sands Fort cache’s logs.
If you fancy going for this cache, make sure that you go properly prepared and check the tide times. Perhaps go as part of an organised group. Read the main page and logs to find out more.

Photos:

Close-up of one of the towers. Photo by geocacher  maattmoo
Close-up of one of the towers. Photo by geocacher maattmoo
50% creepy, 50% awesome. Photo by geocacher jimbo-ugk
50% creepy, 50% awesome. Photo by geocacher jimbo-ugk
Nearing the fort. Photo by geocacher palmercol
Nearing the fort. Photo by geocacher palmercol

What “unreal” places has geocaching taken you? Tell your story and post photos in the comments.

Continue to explore some of the most engaging geocaches around the globe. Check out all the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, just fill out this form. Thanks!

 

Brush up on your math skills. — Pythagoras (GC4DAY7) — Geocache of the Week

Geocache_of_the_Week_vFINAL_122314

Did you bring a calculator? Photo from the Geocaching  Pinterest page.
Did you bring a calculator? Photo from the Geocaching Pinterest page.

Geocache Name:

Pythagoras (GC4DAY7)

Difficulty/Terrain Rating:

3/3.5

Why this is the Geocache of the Week:

Raise your hand if in middle-school math class you said, “I’ll never use this stuff!” Don’t worry, my hand is raised, too. And now here we are, remembering back to our algebra teacher’s lessons so we can earn another smiley.

Excellent journeys and even better puzzles go hand-in-hand. This geocache combines the two and adds in a fantastic geocache container to create a story-worthy moment. All you have to do is figure out the numbers, remember how to use the Pythagorean theorem to solve the puzzle and unlock the lock. Simple!

What the geocache creator,  Kerry_1, has to say:

About the geocache:
In our geocaching area we have found a beautiful place in triangle shape, so we got the idea to use the Pythagoras’ Theorem for guessing the coordinates. We transfered the triangle much bigger into the map and at the tops we took a photos. After we just had to find some places to hide coordinates.
Producing of the box was pretty simple, even with design it took few hours only. There is a little stumper about getting inside. But if cachers gave attention at school, it will be easy to open it.
Regarding Favorite Points and positive logs:
We always get pleased, if people like our cache and somehow all of our caches are made by the same method. We enjoy making up new projects and we are happy if it pleases those, who will find them.
To the geocaching community:
Try to make caches, which will surprise people. So they will also have a nice memories to take, not the count only.

Photos:

Geo-pup needs a break! Photo by chris444
Geo-pup needs a break! Photo by chris444
Geocachers on the way to the find. Photo by geocacher chris444
Geocachers on the way to the find. Photo by geocacher chris444
Pythagoras himself.
Pythagoras himself.

What was the last geocache that really made you think? Tell your story and post photos in the comments.

Continue to explore some of the most engaging geocaches around the globe. Check out all the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog. If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, just fill out this form. Thanks!