our crazy collections

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Hello all, I was invited to post up our bottle finds by "Surf" so I will start by a quick intro.
The Zodiac Divers Group has been diving for bottles for over 20 years and some of us have been at it for 30+ years. We do most of our bottle diving in the winter and save the shipwrecks and MDing for the warmer months. We dive Halifax Harbour, NS which was settled in 1749 but was used by the French and others for a safe harbour and fishing camp well into the 1500s.
I few of the group (of which there is 10 now) have been lucky to find early olive jars and OJ pieces that go all the way back to those times.



Our favorite bottles are of course the Blacks,



These bottles I have posted are from collections from the group, here are a few collection shots.


The first 3 shots are just a small sampling from Bob's collection, the other 2 are a few of my finds.

We also collect up other goodies from the bottom like steamship china, lost items from ships and a multitude of other items.
White Star Lines jug picked up by Dana 2013. Note the WSL flag under the pour spout.



White Star cup, I found this years ago, the same design was used on the Titanic and I have a picture of an identical one from a Nat. Geographic Mag. sitting in the dribris field of her.

and a WSL silver spoon to go with it.

I don't want to start boring everyone as I could post up hunderds more pix but I will keep you posted of our new finds as we bring them up. Thanks for looking and if you have any questions on bottle diving please don't hesitate to ask.
All the best in the new year bottle hunters.
ZDD

 

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[AQUA]

WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Thats quite the collection...and quite a bit of good value there.

Must be alot of fun diving and finding all that stuff....wish i could come along...but i can,t swim lol..maybe i could bring a fishing pole.


Keep up the good work !!!!

 

[Diggin-N-Dumps]

Boring everyone?? Are you kidding!...You have an amazing collection! I would love to see them ALLLLLL

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Boring everyone?? Are you kidding!...You have an amazing collection! I would love to see them ALLLLLL

I will post up a some more later, thanks for looking.
ZDD

 

[bottlehunterofcoscob]

Boring everyone?? Are you kidding!...You have an amazing collection! I would love to see them ALLLLLL

What he said! Post away! Beautiful collection!

 

[surf]

...I don't want to start boring everyone as I could post up hunderds more pix but I will keep you posted of our new finds as we bring them up...

Hey ZDD,

Happy New Year, sir. Many thanks for the visit, and the great photos. Please do "bore" us some more! I'd really like to be "bored" on a bottle by bottle, or shelf by shelf basis. Talk about cases full of history, that must have fascinating backstories to go with their resurfacing...

Big Bravos!

 

[Bass]

Amazing discoveries that would have remained beyond everyone's reach. This is good stuff and i too am looking forward to being "bored"

Sent from my iPhone using TreasureNet

 

[Harry Pristis]

Black glass . . . love it! What is scratched onto your squat cylinder? Do I see a scroll "B" and an "IM" after it?

 

[diggummup]

Impressive. I like! I like! I'm sure people will be getting cabin fever before long up north. I'm sure you won't be boring anyone with more photos. Looking forward to it myself.

 

[Diggin-N-Dumps]

Hey ZDD,

Happy New Year, sir. Many thanks for the visit, and the great photos. Please do "bore" us some more! I'd really like to be "bored" on a bottle by bottle, or shelf by shelf basis. Talk about cases full of history, that must have fascinating backstories to go with their resurfacing...

Big Bravos!

View attachment 923590

Thats what i was thinking....i would love to hear some back stories on these

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Black glass . . . love it! What is scratched onto your squat cylinder? Do I see a scroll "B" and an "IM" after it?

You are absolutly right Harry P, there is also an "A" on it as well. All are scribed differently which leads me to believe this bottle was handed down through 3 different sailors for their daily ration of Rum. I found this one years ago in a place we affectionately call "The Black Glass Hole" due to the numerous broken mallots and cylinders there. This bottle due to it's personel touch is still my faverate bottle find.
ZDD

 

[surf]

Hey ZDD,

You might be able to snap me outta this pernicious boredom with 8 or 10 more photos of your favorite. and this beautiful "hoofer" above. Don't be bashful about goin all Cinerama on these beauties. Can you do a widescreen shot of the scribed letters. Are they all in different hands?

Then I'd be in fine fettle to hear the stories of their rediscovery…

Love that Diving Suit Clock, too.

Humboldt shipwreck Halifax Harbour ​

 

[RelicDude]

Holy frig this is an amazing post your collection is absolutely amazing

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Hey ZDD,

You might be able to snap me outta this pernicious boredom with 8 or 10 more photos of your favorite. and this beautiful "hoofer" above. Don't be bashful about goin all Cinerama on these beauties. Can you do a widescreen shot of the scribed letters. Are they all in different hands?

Then I'd be in fine fettle to hear the stories of their rediscovery…

Love that Diving Suit Clock, too.

View attachment 923723 Humboldt shipwreck Halifax Harbour ​

Hi Surf, glad you invited me to post on this forum, seems like there are a lot of dedicated bottle hunters here. That Mallet sure is a beauty isn't it. Our buddy Bob found that one, he has been at this hard core for decades and has about the best collection you will every come by, he has even written books and articals on the subject.I will post up some of his collection soon.
Nice little piece on the Humboldt. We did alot diving on her over the years. Some of the guys have found gold and silver pocket watches off her. I managed to find just a pice of gold trim from a watch but lots of other goodies though.
Most the items on the left in this little treasure box were found on the Humboldt, the piece of gold trim is over on the right by the gold ring.


ZDD

 

[Harry Pristis]

What's your friend Bob's name for a Google search . . . I'd love to see what he has written about black glass. (Send me a PM, if you're uneasy about publishing his name.)

I have a modest collection of black bottles, and I am always eager to learn more about 'em.

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

This is my buddy Bob's collection, actually just some of it. It's best to click on the pic to get the full effect. Oh yea, best to put down a drool cloth.

This is just a small sampling of his finds over the years, each one was either found diving or dug. Each one is cataloged with the location of the recovery and date. Needless to say Bob is our Bottle God.
ZDD

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

What's your friend Bob's name for a Google search . . . I'd love to see what he has written about black glass. (Send me a PM, if you're uneasy about publishing his name.)

I have a modest collection of black bottles, and I am always eager to learn more about 'em.

Google up "Bob Chaulk Time In a Bottle"

 

[surf]

"Touchdown!"

Author, historian, scuba diver Bob Chaulk collects artifacts from Halifax Harbour - Scuba diving in the Halifax Harbour - Time in a Bottle: Historic Halifax Harbour From the Bottom Up - SS Atlantic - White Star Line - Greg Cochkanoff | Bedford Beacon

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Here are some "In situ" pix taken on " Booty Rock", actually post dive pix would be the better title. These are shots of everyones finds together, we allways take these after the dive to help document the recoveries. Note the snuff bottle in the 3rd pic and the military belt complete with snake buckle in the 4th pic. zoomed in 5th pic.
It always amazes me how much history is sitting on the bottom. If we could only move the silt layer off our finds would make these look like chicken feed but we are happy with what we can find.




You may notice the little bottle of Fireball in the background of some pix, this is our after dive anti freeze.
Good hunting evryone,
ZDD

 

[Harry Pristis]

I watched Bob's 'Time in a Bottle' video. I experienced cognitive dissonance seeing him get into his dry-suit well before his dive!
Florida divers are sooo spoiled. A good dive day here in winter has the air temp around 15 degrees F warmer than the water temp (and the spring-fed rivers don't get all that cold). I couldn't imagine zipping up my dry-suit until I am ready to go overboard. My salute to you, ZDD, and your friend Bob for your endurance and your nice finds!