Prehistoric Treasures: Fossil Diving for Megalodon Teeth
October 29, 2024
Not all dives are created equal, and certainly, they are not all for everyone. Before you dive into this story, consider this a warning: what I am about to describe is not for the faint of heart nor those seeking a picturesque tale of marine life in all its glory. This story is about a type of diving that is niche, off the beaten path, and far from anything I would call "glamorous." It is challenging, gritty, and as specialized as it gets—designed for seasoned divers who have logged countless hours underwater. I am talking about fossil diving in the rivers of the southern USA.
What is Fossil Diving?
Fossil diving is quite similar to blackwater diving, but instead of witnessing the vertical migration of open ocean creatures, you are on a mission to find megalodon teeth. Yes, you read that right—there is a place where you can go scuba diving to hunt for ancient shark teeth, and yes, people are regularly finding megalodon teeth there. But before delving into the specifics of where fossil diving happens, let us talk about the megalodons themselves.
The megalodon, often regarded as one of the most formidable predators in history, was a prehistoric shark species that dominated the oceans millions of years ago during the Cenozoic Era. With an incredibly powerful bite, it preyed on large marine animals, including whales, securing its place at the top of the food chain.
Its teeth, some measuring over seven inches, are among the most commonly found fossils, offering a glimpse into the immense scale and power of this ancient predator. Fossil evidence is particularly abundant in ancient warm water regions, where juvenile megalodons are believed to have used nearshore areas as nurseries.
Megalodons could grow up to an estimated 30 feet in length, making them three times larger than great white sharks
Today, creatures of similar size include the whale shark and basking shark, though neither compare to the megalodon’s power. Despite the occasional media frenzy suggesting otherwise, the megalodon is not still lurking in the oceans; such claims are entirely unfounded.
About 3.5 million years ago, during the mid to late Pliocene, significant ecological shifts—including global cooling and the closure of the Central American Seaway—drastically altered the megalodon’s marine environment. These changes disrupted warm tropical currents, isolating their populations and altering ocean temperatures, currents, and nutrient distribution. The habitat that once supported the megalodon began to disappear.
This sudden disappearance is evident in the fossil record, which shows an abrupt end to the megalodon rather than their gradual evolution into another species. The combination of shrinking food sources, loss of habitat, and new apex predators like orcas, which may have preyed on juvenile megalodons, left no room for this massive shark to survive.
Today’s oceans simply do not offer the nutrient-rich environments required to sustain such a giant predator. So, if you see headlines claiming that megalodons might still roam the depths, know that there is no scientific basis for such claims.
Ruling the oceans for approximately 13 million years, these sharks had 276 large, serrated teeth designed for tearing into their prey. According to the Natural History Museum, megalodons had distinctive features such as a "short snout, a broad jaw, and elongated pectoral fins that supported their massive weight."
While many assume they resembled larger great whites, this theory has been discredited. Their teeth are still commonly found today because sharks continually shed and replace them throughout their lives, leading to a significant accumulation on the ocean floor. Over time, these teeth fossilized and are now frequently uncovered in areas that were once ancient seas, including two places I call home: Western Australia and the East Coast of the United States.
Epic Megalodon fossils can be found in Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina along shorelines, riverbeds, and inlets—and even as far north as New Jersey and New York.
Beachcombers and those wading in the rivers may get lucky, but those who go fossil diving in the murky waters of rivers like the Cooper or the lesser-known Wando in Charleston, South Carolina, have a much higher chance of striking gold.
Our expedition team learned about fossil diving while on the road—an insider tip from a fellow fossil enthusiast like me. After hearing about his incredible finds in these river systems, we immediately re-routed our journey. We were going fossil diving in South Carolina!
Topside, South Carolina is a stunning place. As one of America’s oldest colonial cities, its deep history and wealth are reflected in its remarkable architecture, which alone draws visitors from all over. You will also notice pineapples everywhere—a tradition from the days when ship captains would place them outside their homes after long voyages to signal their return and welcome friends and family. These iconic fruits have become a symbol of the city, attracting visitors from around the globe.
But beneath the water in South Carolina’s rivers, the beauty is not something you will see, but rather something you will feel. And I do not mean this figuratively, I mean quite literally you will need to sift for these fossils with your heavily covered hands, as it is sharp to sift down there!
Fossil diving is vastly different from other types of diving though; it requires a sense of touch far more than a sense of sight and dealing with very challenging conditions.
Fossil diving in South Carolina for shark teeth means dealing with nearly zero visibility, using head torches mounted on helmets, gripping a pick to anchor yourself against fierce currents, and carefully sifting through the riverbed by hand. Once you feel something promising, you bring it close to your mask for inspection, hoping it is a tooth, before dropping it into a bag attached to your kit for safekeeping.
These river currents are no joke—they are strong and potentially dangerous, which is why these dives should only be attempted with experienced locals who understand the rivers. Even though the dive sites tend to be shallow, going solo is a huge risk and something that some fanatic fossil divers take from time to time. But that is where you can certainly get into trouble.
Recognizing the challenges, we reached out to Carolina Dive Locker and its owner, Jeffrey Eidenberger – a US Navy veteran and SSI Instructor Trainer. Jeff, a Charleston local with a 30-year career, had only recently begun offering fossil diving, catering to those highly trained and up for the challenge. His team was continually uncovering new hotspots for treasure, making us feel like we were in the best possible hands.
Fossil Diving for Megalodon Teeth in South Carolina
Upon our arrival in South Carolina, Jeff introduced us to what we somewhat cinematically dubbed the "dream team", an incredibly qualified fossil diving group composed entirely of ex- and active-military members. There was Walker Townsend, the USCG Master Captain, Jessie Lang, a Scuba Instructor, commercial diver, and ROV operator, Jason Stotko, another Scuba Instructor, Brian Heinze, an Assistant Scuba Instructor, and Dale Poston, one final Assistant Scuba Instructor.
Each team member fulfilled their specific role flawlessly which ensured safety without compromise. It was arguably one of the most professional and skilled teams we had encountered since being on our expedition.
Jeff planned our dives down to the minute to coincide with the slack tide—the brief period when the river’s currents are at their calmest. This window of time was crucial, as once the currents picked up again, some spots were no longer viable for diving. As we made our way to the Wando River, a lesser-known but promising fossil diving location for megalodon teeth, we received a thorough briefing from Jeff and the dream team.
For them, this fossil diving was not going to be fun unless the safety protocol was completely followed. We were tethered to our dive buddies with a loose, easily escapable line, allowing enough distance between us while ensuring we did not lose each other in the black waters.
With a pick in one hand to stabilize ourselves, we would use the other to sift through the riverbed for 60 minutes only, as any more time might mean we hit the crazy water currents.
Equipped with state-issued hobby licenses, we were allowed to keep our fossil diving finds—something crucial to remember, as taking artifacts without a license is illegal in South Carolina (and in many other places around the world too!)
Descending into what felt like warm bath water, our 3mm wetsuits quickly felt like overkill, but gloves and protective gear were essential. Sharp objects littered the riverbed, and without heavy-duty lights strapped to our heads, it was truly impossible to see what we were doing.
The experience was disorienting at first. Even with some blackwater dives under our belts, this felt different. It was broad daylight, and the sun was shining topside, but the minute we passed the meter mark, we were in total darkness. There was no light guiding the way except for the beams we carried.
We communicated through tugs on our tether: one tug meant "Check this out," two tugs signaled to relocate to a new spot on the riverbed, and three tugs meant "We need to bail, now!" The first tug was exciting. Brian was my dive buddy, and he found a massive, perfectly intact 5-6 inch megalodon tooth within 20 minutes of our very first dive.
The thrill of discovering a megalodon tooth was unmatched, and both of us were screaming into our regulators with utter joy!
Together, we also found a whale spine, ribs, several vertebrae, and numerous shark teeth from species such as great white sharks, mako sharks, sand tiger sharks, and tiger sharks. By the time we surfaced from our second dive, we had a bag full of fossils ready to be inspected and cleaned.
But before we could do that, we had to deal with the raging current that just so happened to come our way, making matters quite challenging to escape the water. Thankfully, the spotter boat was ready, and we grabbed the lead line, which dragged us back to Jeff’s boat—a necessity as I would not have made it back to the main vessel if it were not for them!
Most people who come to Carolina Dive Locker are interested in diving at exotic offshore locations, which also requires advanced skills. These dives, 10-20 miles offshore and over 150 meters deep, are challenging, rewarding, and some of Jeff’s favorite spots. However, only about 20% of divers coming into the shop are aware of river diving, and even fewer take the plunge.
We quickly understood why—this fossil diving is for the brave and curious, offering an underwater adrenaline rush like no other. After seeing Brian’s perfect tooth, I was filled with wonder and a burning desire to uncover what else lay hidden in these waters. I kept saying that I could have been down there forever. And a lot of people in these parts share the same sentiment.
Jeff told us stories of hard-core local divers finding pistols, coat buttons, and war machinery—artifacts left behind from centuries when water was the main mode of transport. But it is not just the Cooper and Wando Rivers where treasures can be found; the ocean holds its own surprises too. That is where Jeff suspects you can find a lot more from prehistoric times.
However, Jeff recalled a dive in the 1980s at a remote and hard-to-reach site called Edisto, where he found what he initially thought was a plate but turned out to be a gauge from an old cargo vessel. After restoration, it became one of his most prized possessions, worth a small fortune. Some divers are motivated by the thrill of the hunt (like me), while others are drawn by the historical and monetary value of their finds.
Fossil diving for megalodon teeth in the penumbral rivers of South Carolina is not for the faint-hearted, but for those who embrace the challenge, it offers an unparalleled sense of discovery. From the historical charm of Charleston to the thrilling treasure hunts beneath its waters, this adventure is a testament to the rewards of stepping off the beaten path.
Just as the ancient pineapples of South Carolina signal a homecoming, these dives bring us closer to uncovering the secrets of our planet’s distant past, connecting us to the powerful history that lies beneath the surface. So, if you are ready to push your limits and explore the unknown, the rivers of South Carolina await with treasures that hopefully will only figuratively take your breath away!
Ready to go fossil diving? Contact Carolina Dive Locker to plan your next adventure!
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Andi Cross is an SSI Ambassador and lead of the Edges of Earth expedition, highlighting stories of positive ocean progress and how to explore the world more consciously. To keep up with the expedition, follow the team on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and their website.