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Papa Bear
04-14-2008, 01:30 AM
Anyone can fiend treasure along the California Coast! Along the central coast is a place called Jade Cove where if your luck and skilled you can find Nephrite Jade in north Americas only Jade deposit and it is owned by the State of California! You can take as much as you can take by hand, no mechanical equipment allowed! Lift bags are okay and a fellow took a 5000lb piece with hand block and tackle and fought the state and won! Then gave it to a museum!

The picture is of Professor Otto Gasser & Me holding an 89lb piece we brought up together 35 years ago!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/432_Otto_Me_with_89lb_piece_of_jade_74.jpg

amtrosie
04-14-2008, 01:54 AM
Love the leather visor! :p

Papa Bear
04-14-2008, 02:08 AM
It was the 70's!!!! Me too:p

Papa Bear
04-14-2008, 02:12 AM
This is the shore entry on the south cove, you drop in behind the big rock and there is a solid Jade cave cut through the bottom right side of the rock that takes you right into the open water under the bull kelp!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/456_entry_into_N_Jade_Cove_Jade_Cave_74.jpg

Papa Bear
04-14-2008, 02:14 AM
You park alone the road or in the parking lot and them walk down a three hundred foot high cliff! Going down is the easy part!
http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/432_Otto_Lynn_Jade_Cove_74.jpg

Papa Bear
04-14-2008, 02:25 AM
If they would only install an elevator!
http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/456_Me_Otto_North_Cove_JC_74.jpg

I have been thinking of suing under the AWDA for old age access! :D ;)

The Publisher
04-14-2008, 03:30 AM
I remember Jade Cove! My problem is I could not distinguish jade form green soapstone which is everywhere there.

Papa Bear
04-14-2008, 03:44 AM
Jade comes from the Serpentine rock that is apple-green to black, but jade is the hardest non-mineral on earth at 7.5! .5 harder than steel, so you can scratch Serpentine with your knife, but not Jade! I have seen a lot of people bring a lot of Green Rock up to the parking lot where I go over and tell them it is worthless! :( :eek: :p

lars2923
04-14-2008, 01:28 PM
How much $$ in todays dollars would a 5 lb. chunk of the green stuff worth?

Papa Bear
04-14-2008, 02:39 PM
$20 to $50 per lb depending on color and quality!

lars2923
04-14-2008, 03:05 PM
20-50 dollas, almost enough to pay for the dive...

acelockco
04-14-2008, 04:07 PM
Forget 5lbs, you are allowed to bring up anything one person can carry without any help of tools and such which they say is 80 lbs. So now you are talking $300-$800 if Papa Bear's numbers are correct. That will surely pay for your dive, but what about getting it and just keeping it for yourself or giving it to someone you know as a gift? You are still having a blast diving and finding things.

When I was in California last year, we went to the Channel Islands, when I found out about Big Sur and the jade our vacation was just about over. Now I know the next time I am out there I want to do some diving there.

Papa Bear, I love all of the photos you have been posting recently.

Papa Bear
04-15-2008, 04:48 AM
Here I am with a female buddy crawling out at North Jade Cove back in 1973! Water temp in August was 49* but we were hunting the green stuff! BTW all the doors in my house have 5lb door stops of pure Nephrite Jade!:eek:

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/475_2_Getting_out_in_North_Jade_Cove_1973.jpg

Papa Bear
04-15-2008, 06:20 AM
Here is the trail down to the North Cove and going down isn't bad at all! It is the hick up and if you got the Green it makes it even more fun! It's very close to gold fever...... You can take it 60 miles up the coast to Monetary where there is a world class jade artist who will carve something cool for you for a pretty reasonable Price!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/471_2_Me_my_dive_buddy_one_of_the_girls_JC_1974.jp g

lars2923
04-15-2008, 01:52 PM
Here is the trail down to the North Cove and going down isn't bad at all! It is the hick up and if you got the Green it makes it even more fun! It's very close to gold fever...... You can take it 60 miles up the coast to Monetary where there is a world class jade artist who will carve something cool for you for a pretty reasonable Price!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/471_2_Me_my_dive_buddy_one_of_the_girls_JC_1974.jp g

Hey, Are you wearing one of those bright Yellow vests with CO2 cartridge?
I use to own one of those back in the 70's... Ooopps... giving away my age..

Papa Bear
04-16-2008, 05:15 AM
Hey we all did! Right? LOL Here is the long hard hot trek back up and you hope you will be doing it with jade!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/475_3_the_hick_up_at_Jade_Cove_South_cove_1975.jpg

Papa Bear
04-16-2008, 06:24 AM
I was always ready to take all the Jade at Jade Cove, but there was just so much of it! 33 years later and they are still bringing tons of the stuff out! Well maybe not tons, but the better hunters do all right! BTW it is a great dive below the bull kelp even if you don't find a lot of the Green stuff!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/475_2_Me_at_North_Jade_Cove_1973.jpg

hbh2oguard
04-16-2008, 05:44 PM
when was the last time you or anyone has dove there? It's not that far away so I might just have to go down there and give it a shot.

Papa Bear
04-16-2008, 07:19 PM
A couple years ago I trekked back and all was good! The Kelp and the trail had changed a little! Sand Dollar beach to the North used to be a big sandy beach and it was real rocky the last time! You are close enough for a day run! I would do it! I might bring some friends up in August? Depends on my schedule?

hbh2oguard
04-16-2008, 10:55 PM
I think I will, get a group of four of us or so and head on down. If I can find a big chunk....I'm rich:) http://www.norcaljade.com/Featured.aspx

hbh2oguard
04-16-2008, 10:59 PM
oh yea do you have any tips?????
1)Hope it doesn't scratch with a knife?????:)

Papa Bear
04-16-2008, 11:00 PM
Nice site, you found! If you go you will have to take pictures and do a report! I guess the 89lb piece would be worth a dollar or two! I have to make sure Otto has that in his will for me! LOL

http://twotankedproductions.com/images/432_Otto_Me_with_89lb_piece_of_jade_74.jpg

hbh2oguard
04-16-2008, 11:06 PM
Yea maybe the next 3 day holiday because it looks like there are camp sites right up the way. I'm assuming bring as may tanks as you plan on diving since there is really no where along the big sur coast to get a fill.

Papa Bear
04-16-2008, 11:09 PM
You got part about the Jade cave in south cove? Also, the jade often gets caught in crevasses where the largest surf is! It is the ponding of the surf that dislodges the rocks and polishes them! If you go too deep you will see jade, but the pieces are way too big to get by hand! The surf zone or Storm Surf Zone is the best place to fine bigger pieces! The cracks in the rocks have some great little pocket pieces! Take non-diver friends to help pack the equipment! LOL also a litter or sling to help as well! Good luck!

http://twotankedproductions.com/images/475_2_Crawlling_out_at_North_Jade_Cove_1973.jpg

Papa Bear
04-16-2008, 11:11 PM
Right! The campground is right across the street from North Cove! First come first serve nothing over 28feet! Scratch everything with your knife before you bring it up!

http://twotankedproductions.com/images/475_2_Around_the_campfire_Jade_Cove_1973.jpg

lars2923
04-17-2008, 02:24 AM
Maybe SDM and PAPA can organize a trip..
I read about this site on Scuba Diving Mag, or some other dive mag within the last few months. Sounds like an interesting dive...

Papa Bear
04-17-2008, 02:35 AM
August through September are the best times! If we get enough interest maybe we can do something? I am getting old and need someone to help carry my gear up the hill, I think I can get it down! LOL:p :eek: :rolleyes:

hbh2oguard
04-17-2008, 04:42 AM
thanks for the advice, well I'll be in the OC for the summer so I guess I can't go during the best times. What makes Aug and Sept better?

Papa Bear
04-17-2008, 04:47 AM
Less fog! Like the bay area the Santa Ana Winds blow it off shore and lay down the sea! Maybe late Sept. when they close the beaches for winter?

hbh2oguard
04-17-2008, 07:09 AM
Maybe late Sept. when they close the beaches for winter?

I'm sure you've heard of the great balancing the budget stragety......... the beaches will be closed in June:( Just about half of the state parks are planned to be closed. Now is that the best solution...I don't think so! When the drownings start stacking up, maybe then something will give.

acelockco
04-17-2008, 03:53 PM
I'm sure you've heard of the great balancing the budget stragety......... the beaches will be closed in June:( Just about half of the state parks are planned to be closed. Now is that the best solution...I don't think so! When the drownings start stacking up, maybe then something will give.

Closed beaches in June? That is the early summer, why would they close the beaches?

And what do you mean by closed? No lifeguards or blocked off and tickets issued? I think it is time to get Arnold on the horn.

Papa Bear
04-17-2008, 04:02 PM
No guard or other services! We have spent ourselves broke! Revenues have raised by 17% above inflation and growth over the last 5 years and the Dumocrats in the state have increased spending by 30% in the same period! Then they scream schools! What do they close parks that people pay fees to get into????!!!!! Arnold was a bust! Came in with good ideas and listened to his wife and now we have a Kennedy in the Capital! Spend and tax!

Add the Illegal problem to the mix and the closing of emergency rooms because they use the recourses for free while we pay! Put in a dash of insurance control and regulation that won't allow for competition and bingo! MESS!

Now back to your scheduled treasure hunt! :p

Papa Bear
04-17-2008, 04:10 PM
Speaking of treasure I have a friend who works in the oil industry and his company knows where there is enough natural gas off the coast of LA to power the LA basin for 200 years! Yet the California Coastal Commission (Who are they? Not elected) won't allow any drilling! Yet the platforms are the best dive sites here! Go figure! It's just easier to fill up the truck at 5.00 per gallon and go to jade cove! I am sure the price of jade will be going up as well:D

hbh2oguard
04-18-2008, 12:08 AM
Well the CCC is a pain in the ass. One of the local headquarters flooded because the CCC forced them to remove the big sand berms because of the grunion runs. Oh well..... glad I'm no longer a state employee because more than likely I'd be out of a job this summer.

Papa Bear
04-18-2008, 03:48 AM
Hey its just taxpayers money, endless! We don't even elect them and they have way too much power! I never felt they were constitutional in the first place, but whats that? Right! Good thing you work local level! Good luck this season and you better give us a report on the cove!:D

Papa Bear
04-18-2008, 05:14 AM
If you have a good tent it is just the thing for Jade Cove! If you get there early get a site close to the road and you can walk across the street to North Cove directly!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/475_4_Dennis_at_Jade_Cove_1975.jpg

Papa Bear
04-18-2008, 05:14 PM
Here is a picture in September with clear skies! The fog is a regular visitor to this part of the coast! It is so nice to see the sun until it comes out while your hiking up the hill! Then it gets hot in that suit fast! :rolleyes:

http://twotankedproductions.com/images/475_4_Sand_dollar_beach_Jade_Cove_1974.jpg

Papa Bear
04-19-2008, 02:41 AM
This is a picture from the North Cove looking into the South Cove! At the base of all these rocks sticking up are opportunities for Jade to get trapped! The one thing I haven't told you is to watch out for Wolf eels! They are territorial and one bite me in the leg! Left 44 puncture holes in my 7mm wet suit and my Leg! I was looking in the cracks and my buddy was following me right behind me single file when I felt a hard tug on my left leg! I thought it was my buddy grabbing me to tell me he had found a piece of jade! When I rolled over into a sitting position I could see a 6ft Eel sticking out of my left leg! :eek: I swung my Geologists pick at him and he opened his mouth to breath and swam off! My buddy was yelling under water Eel, Eel, Eel, as if I didn't know! Bubbles were every where and his eyes filled his mask! Like he said later "It was very close to his head"! So I looked down and saw green coming out of my wet suit and gave the thumbs up!

On the surface we talked about it and knew we still had 1/2 a tank, so we decided to work our way back toward shore! The water was too cold to feel anything so why not finish the dive? We worked back and my buddy was the first up yelling to our friends "Reed got bite by a Wolf Eel" at the top of his lungs! Well I was now the center of attention and everyone wanted to see including myself! So my wife and all the guys and girls carried my stuff, including my jade, up the hill so I could get my wet suit off and show everyone! It was quite a parade of gore! I washed off and went into the tent and peeled off the suit and there it was the wound of 44 holes top and bottom just like you would make at the dentist when you bite down to leave that perfect impression!!!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/480_5_looking_into_South_Cove_JC_1975.jpg

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/480_5_North_Jade_Cove_1975.jpg

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/480_5_North_Jade_Cove_sea_level_1975.jpg

The big rock with bird sign is the outer edge of the Jade formation!

Papa Bear
04-20-2008, 01:20 AM
This is my wife and my, at the time 9 year old sister-in-law, with her collection bag they would comb the shore for small stones while I was in the water and then they would help me carry my treasure back to camp! :D

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/338_5_Kathy_Debra_North_Cove_JC_1975.jpg

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/480_5_Kathy_Debra_going_down_trail_JC_1975.jpg

lars2923
04-20-2008, 01:42 AM
I may have missed the subject, what type of depths are we looking at?

Papa Bear
04-20-2008, 02:05 AM
You can get deep in the outer bay, but most of the tumbled Jade ends up where the big surf deposits it! The biggest pieces I have found have been between 15ft and 25ft! I think I stated the surf zone earlier as being the best place to find it!

acelockco
04-20-2008, 08:10 PM
By state law, you can't recover any jade that is below 90 feet. I don't know why, but they have a list of rules on the state park website.

Papa Bear
04-20-2008, 11:00 PM
They are always adding new Dumocrat rules all the time! How will they know! LOL So I guess look out for the jade police at 91ft! LOL Didn't even know it came marked! LOL :D :confused: :eek:

Papa Bear
04-21-2008, 01:41 AM
I found an article by a friend of mine Dr. Sam Miller formally from Riverside CA. Now retired and living in Santa Maria CA.

http://www.seasabres.com/%5CDive%20Spots%5CJadeCove1965.htm

Papa Bear
04-21-2008, 02:12 AM
Here is another short article about the cove that maybe helpful:

http://www.saintbrendan.com/cdnmay03/Jade.html

Papa Bear
05-08-2008, 04:30 AM
Okay I am going to Hijack this thread for a post! This is a real treasure story! My friend George Laws owns a trucking company and has been a Mongol Biker for 14 years! Allison Stewart is another friend of mine who is the executive editor of a major New York Financial news paper! Both were invited by me to join me in the T & C for a week of diving and shooting our pilot! They ended up being dive buddies for a week and became friends, very good friends, and will be married August 2nd 2008 in New York City! He really found treasure in the Turks & Caicos Islands! Real and I hope long lasting treasure! Good luck guys!;) http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/600_IMG_3179_George_Allison_T_C_AII_07.jpg

The Publisher
05-08-2008, 05:00 PM
For their wedding present Papa you ought to get them their Mongols logo embroidered on their BC's so when they dive they're displaying their "colors".

That would be such a cool conversation starter too.

acelockco
05-09-2008, 01:06 AM
Or better yet on some wet suits for them. They both look very cold, or is he trying to make his arms look bigger? :eek:

Papa Bear
05-09-2008, 01:17 AM
He already has the Tats! The story of him driving up to her building at work on his Harley and walking up to security is so wild! Security pushed the "Button" and four big guys come out to escort him out! He says "Just call her office she will see me" and the "Look on the guys face" according to George when she said "Show him up"! The Security guy put him in the elevator to the 78th floor with two big guys as escort! The Book ends take him up and the door opens and she runs into his arms! He said you should have seen the look on the guys faces! He goes back to her office while she finishes some business so they can go to lunch, when he calls me and tells me, "I don't know what I am doing here, she has a PHD on the wall!" "What the H_ _ _ does she see in me?" I tell him to go with the flow and she finishes up hands her a helmet walk hand in hand to the elevator as she tells her secretary to "Hold her calls until she gets back".....They go down to the lobby out the door jump on the Harley and roar off down Broadway to eat lunch!

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/600_TCAII_Topside_71_Allison.jpg