She held her breath as a grainy image began to appear on the screen. It was incredible and too good to be true. The computer was able to load the images slowly but then one detail made his blood run cold.
After so many years of a secret staying buried deep beneath the ocean, one image was about to change a man’s life. The ripple effect would be catastrophic but she knew there was only one choice to make, and picked up the phone to make an urgent call.
A Typical Day Underwater
The Simon Fraser University marine ecology department organized an exciting dive opportunity for its graduating students. After studying for years to get their degrees, each one was itching to use their skills in the unknown ocean depths.
One team, in particular, was about to discover something no one expected. The item they found didn’t belong in the ocean, but the decision to return it to its rightful owner would start a long legal battle no one had anticipated.
What Did The Students Achieve?
The divers were all graduating students that had been studying marine biology for the past four years. They were eager to view more wildlife from the ocean but never expected to find a particular item buried within the coral.
As they dived below the surface, beautiful fish swam all around them. One student noticed something buried beneath the sand and began to dive deeper than the rest to investigate.
Going Under The Waves
Beau Doherty and Tella Osler had studied side by side for four years. The morning was crisp and the water was clear. It was a perfect day for diving but no one could have predicted what they would find buried deep below.
Diving under the water surface was Beau’s favorite part. He loved the calm and quiet universe that existed below the surf. As he swam deeper something caught the corner of his eye and he motioned to Tella follow him and investigate.
Don’t Go Too Far
The group tries to stay together for safety but Beau was breaking the rules. He knew something was different from the object he had spotted and decided to venture further than the group.
They were only supposed to be focusing on cataloging different starfish, but the closer Beau got to this object the more intrigued he became. He reached forward and grabbed onto a material he never expected to find underwater!
The Aqua World
Tella loved the different plants and animals that existed in the ocean. She saw Beau frantically gesture to something and sighed in exasperation. Beau was always getting sidetracked instead of using this time to focus on their studies.
She knew she had to follow her friend but was already prepared to explore the ocean by herself. Suddenly Beau started grabbing at something hidden in the ocean sands. Tella swam quickly to her friend’s side and gasped at what he set free!
Curiosity Got The Better Of Him
Beau had to see what this object was hiding buried deep in the sand. He dreamed of the prestige and admiration he would receive for finding buried treasure and pushed the sand away to grab the mysterious object.
He tried to understand what he was looking at but the ocean had practically removed any previous shape and form. Beau was prepared to throw away the rest of the diving time to clean the mysterious object off, but Tella had different plans entirely.
Environmentalist Fighting A Losing Battle
Unfortunately, the students were constantly finding garbage or items that did not belong in the ocean. Tella assumed Beau was trying to clean the ocean but grew frustrated!
This wasn’t the time to clean up someone else’s mess. The students only had a few precious minutes underwater and Tella didn’t want to waste any of them. She shook her head at Beau and swam away from a discovery that would haunt the rest of her dreams.
Murky Waters And Feelings
Tella didn’t want to waste time cleaning off Beau’s mysterious find. She watched her friend swim back up to the surface as she went deeper to examine algae and coral.
While Tella was reviewing familiar marina ecosystems Beau couldn’t put down the unexpected treasure in his hands. Onboard the boat, he stared at what he found and instant panic began in his brain.
What Should He Do?
Beau realized he had found something unique and would need to ask for help understanding the item. At the end of the diving time, he pulled his professor aside and showed her the algae encrusted object and noticed the shock resonate on her face.
There were two professors monitoring the class expedition and when Beau brought his treasure forward, it was a ripple of excitement. One student’s find was about to change a professor’s career permanently.
The Impact Of Nature
Professor Siobhan Gray was extremely interested in Beau’s find. The object was covered with fauna and algae that she had never had a chance to work on. She packaged the camera up and went back to the lab immediately.
Under the white lights in the school, Professor Gray realized the object was a camera. Due to the size and features, it would have been underwater for several years. She held her breath and began to open the case, getting deeper into the mysterious object’s past.
A Thriving Miniature Ecosystem
It was incredible to see the impact the environment had left on a simple object someone had lost years ago. When Professor Gray opened the camera she was thrilled with what she found.
Inside the camera were various types of algae, a sea cucumber, and two rare versions of starfish called brittle stars. She wanted to catalog everything but then found an even bigger surprise waiting to be discovered.
Against All Odds
Inside the camera, Professor Gray found a memory card. The professor was shocked at the relatively good condition she found the memory card in.
It was covered with black algae but she knew her team could clean that off and potentially locate the owner of the camera. The professor would soon realize that some things are better left on the ocean floor.
Delicately Wiping Away The Past
Professor Gray tenderly cleaned the memory card. She used a cotton bud and rubbing alcohol and the process took several days. It was finally the moment of truth as she slipped the memory disc into her computer and crossed her fingers.
The screen lit up and Professor Gray’s jaw dropped as she realized what she was looking at. She knew she had to call the authorities but how could she explain these bizarre circumstances?
Twitter Detectives
The two lead professors decided to tweet a family photo and see if anyone recognized the people. They decided to use the hashtag detective and prayed social media would connect them with the camera’s owner.
After a few interesting responses, they realized they weren’t getting the help they needed. It was time to do things the old-fashioned way, but soon a deadly twist would get thrown into their plan.
Do You Know This Man?
The class of marine biologists put up posters in their neighborhood and got prepared to wait for someone to answer. After a few weeks, the telephone rang and Professor Gray spoke to someone who recognized the camera’s owner.
The caller worked in the Navy and thought this man was the same as someone he rescued from a shipwreck! Professor Gray couldn’t believe her ears and anxiously wrote down the man’s name, desperate to unite him with his belongings.
Meeting The Mystery Man
In 2012, Paul Burgoyne took his nine-meter trawler out to the ocean for a relaxing day of fishing. The man thought he had put the boat into park, but quickly realized his dangerous oversight.
The boat was thrown into nearby rocks and smashed to bits. Paul realized he was in a dangerous situation and knew he needed help fast. While his camera sank below the surface, hypothermia was making Paul drowsy….
A Coast Guard Rescue Mission
The coast guard was able to rescue Paul a few hours later. The man was instantly treated for his injuries and exposure to cold water. When he called his wife she couldn’t believe how lucky her husband was!
Paul realized he had lost his camera and other belongings but was happy to be safe on land. He would constantly think about the irreplaceable family images he had lost until the professors contacted him out of the blue!
Connecting With The Man In The Photo
Paul hadn’t thought about that fateful night in two years and couldn’t believe it when the team reached out letting him know the miraculous news! He was anxious to have the memory card back and Professor Gray’s eyes filled with tears as she listened to his story.
Paul was desperate to have the photos because they were from scattering his parents' ashes at Lake of the Woods in Ontario. The man thought he would never have those moments back and couldn’t control his emotions as he spoke to Professor Gray over the phone.
Backing Up The Memories
The professors made sure to backup all the images and present a new flash drive to Adam with his precious memories. He can’t believe his luck to be reunited with his possessions after the terrifying experience.
The class was relieved that the camera did not show more sinister photos and loved hearing Adam’s miraculous rescue! The ocean is full of incredible surprises and hidden treasures that we have only begun to explore.