When I finished my last blog, I decided the next topic I wanted to write about would be a series on shark tooth fossil hunting. Its a new hobby I’ve only picked up in the last year, but I have become pretty much obsessed with it. While writing my next blog, something unthinkable happened. A very well respected member of the fossil diving community, and a wonderful friend, passed away while he was diving. Before I get into my diving experiences in later posts, I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about Alan and the fossil auction fundraiser his friends started in his memory.
provided by Mrs. Kim Devier.
The Cooper River in South Carolina may look like any ordinary coastal river from the surface, but to divers and fossil hunters, its and endless treasure hunt. On many dives, we can only see but a few inches in front of us. But among the gravel beds on the river floor are scattered fossils and artifacts from prehistoric creatures that have been extinct for millions of years. The river is dark and the currents are swift and the dives are challenging, but we are drawn to the area from all over for the large concentration of prized Megalodon Shark teeth.
Alan Devier knew the Cooper River better than any other boat captain. Fossil hunting wasn’t just his profession, it was truly his passion. When Alan wasn’t loading up his pontoon boats with a group of eager divers, he was out there diving himself. Looking for new spots and exploring the ever-changing river to make sure his friends and customers had the best experience possible.
Photo provided by Jimmy Armstrong.
Alan’s reputation and knowledge of the river wasn’t the only thing that drew people to him. In an industry full of fake and questionable personalities, Alan was genuine and sincere. And I don’t mean just compared to divers; to many of us who were lucky enough to know him, Alan was one of the best people we knew. He was kind and loyal and honest. Someone who would quite literally give you the shirt off his back. He went out of his way to make sure everyone had a good time. And boy did we have a good time. Losing him has left a void in the dive community that can never be filled.
But something else happened when we lost Alan. The dive community pulled together in a way that I have never seen before to support the one thing Alan loved more than diving. His family. A close friend and dive buddy of Alan’s, the very sweet Debra Powell, put together a brilliant fundraiser where fossil hunters from all over donated beautiful shark teeth and fossils from their trips with Alan. The auction items quickly grew to include unique experiences, jewelry, artwork, equipment, etc., all related to sharks and fossils, to be auctioned off, with 100% of the proceeds going to Alan’s family. Alan’s wife, Kim, has been kind enough to post items from his personal fossil collection for those who would like to own a genuine “Alan tooth”.
The Alan Devier Fundraiser Facebook group continues to grow its members and new auctions are added frequently. The group is open to everyone but tends to attract scuba divers, shark tooth collectors and fossil hunters. The bid items are excellent quality and come from good and honest sources. If you have ever considered purchasing a shark tooth, fossil or shark related gift, it is by far the safest place to do so, with many experts in the group to provide feedback and answer questions. The group is clearly a reflection of how loved Alan was by his friends.
Diving the Cooper will never be the same for me or the countless other divers Alan has touched.
If you’re a diver interested in getting into fossil hunting or diving for shark teeth, there are multiple locations available for varying skill sets. I’ll be writing some follow ups to talk about my experiences with some different places I’ve been diving, but feel free to reach out to me directly or join the Anarchy Scuba Spot Facebook group to connect with other experienced divers.
Thank you for reading/listening,
Tracy
#megalodonteeth #fossilhunting #divemore