Naturally I had to reach out to Saltwater Sean as more and more of his videos and photos kept coming up in my timeline! From old trinkets and treasures, bottles and coins, Sean has been helping keep our precious ocean bottom just a bit cleaner by exploring our local shores.
****As usual my 2 cents will be under the questions and look like this so you know when I throw in some thoughts also!
Who are you, and how long have you been diving?
I’m Sean McMullen, but most people online know me as Saltwater Sean. I’ve been diving for a few years now, but I really got serious about it in 2020. What started as just snorkeling around for fun turned into this whole adventure—cleaning up the waterways, finding lost history, and sharing it all with people online.
What made you decide to dive for items you find? Was it always about treasure hunting, or did that come later?
At first, I was just drawn to the water. I’ve always loved being around it, and I started diving just to explore. But then I started noticing all this stuff on the bottom—old bottles, lost fishing gear, even full-on pieces of history just sitting there. That’s when it clicked. It became this mix of environmental cleanup and historical discovery, and the more I learned, the more hooked I got.
What are some of the coolest things you’ve found?
There’s been a lot, but a few stand out. I found an old Cantrell & Cochrane soda bottle from Dublin & Belfast. probably over 100 years old. That was pretty special. I’ve also pulled up many other old bottles, lost jewelry, and even a gun once, which was a whole thing because I had to report it. But honestly, sometimes the weird little things, like a phone or a bottle with barnacles all over it, can be just as interesting.
Have you run into any wildlife down there?
Oh yeah, all the time I’ve seen some massive lobsters, jellyfish floating by, and even the occasional big fish that gives me a bit of a jump. You’re definitely never alone down there. Lots of starfish too.
*** I would be really scared about encountering anything down there! I think that’s the part of the ocean that makes me the most afraid, is that there could be anything around!
Any scary moments while diving?
For sure. One of the sketchiest was when I got tangled in some old fishing line. I was coming up for air, and it wrapped around my arm. For a second, I couldn’t move, and I had to stay calm and untangle myself before I could surface. Another time, I was in really murky water, and it felt like something big was nearby—but I couldn’t see anything. That was eerie.
*** YUP. Worst fear unlocked for me right here!!
You’ve mentioned hearing loss on Facebook. Has that affected your diving, or did diving cause it?
It was actually caused by a diving accident. A few years ago, I had barotrauma, basically, pressure damage, that messed up my right ear permanently. Now I have tinnitus and some hearing loss on that side. It makes equalizing pressure trickier, and I have to be really careful about depth changes. But it hasn’t stopped me from diving—I’ve just learned to work around it.
I saw you did a polar bear dip recently. Was that your first one? How was it?
I’ve been doing them for about a year now. The second you hit the water, it’s like your whole body goes into shock, but once you get past that, it’s actually kind of amazing. It wakes you up in a way nothing else does. I’ll definitely do it again.
If someone wanted to start diving, what advice would you give them?
Just start small. You don’t need fancy gear, just a good mask and snorkel. Get comfortable in the water, learn how to breathe calmly, and always dive with someone else. If you want to go deeper, take a freediving or scuba course, but don’t rush it. And most importantly, respect the water. It’s incredible, but it can also be unforgiving if you don’t take it seriously.
Even if you are unable to dive for whatever reason. Check out Sean’s youtube channel as he documents his adventures searching the sea floor for all kinds of treasures too!
Stacey J. Girard 