Off the coast of Noosa, a coastal town in Queensland, Australia, Matt Cuddihy, an intrepid surfer and ocean explorer, stumbled upon something extraordinary.
While enjoying the surf, he noticed an unusual sight—an assortment of sand and rocks exposed by shifting tides. Little did he know that this chance encounter would lead to the discovery of a treasure from the depths.
Among the rocks, Cuddihy found seven surfboard fins, along with a remarkable Rolex Submariner watch. The watch’s glass was partially frosted from years of sand moving around it, revealing a fascinating story waiting to be unveiled.
Cuddihy couldn’t believe his eyes when he stumbled upon this hidden treasure. After capturing the moment with his trusty GoPro, he initially thought it might be a counterfeit Rolex from Bali.
Intrigued by his discovery, he shared images of the watch on Instagram, unveiling a timepiece encrusted with ocean debris—a testament to its extended underwater voyage.
The watch appeared to be a Rolex Submariner reference 14060, though later corrected to be a Submariner ref. 5513.
Curiosity piqued, Cuddihy decided to examine the watch more closely. He carefully cleaned it with fresh water, removing sand, salt, and organisms that had accumulated over time.
Despite the major corrosion on the bezel, the watch’s second hand continued its steady motion. However, the crown was jammed, limiting its ability to display the accurate time.
Nevertheless, the surviving mechanics of the watch painted a vivid picture of its resilience against the harsh underwater conditions.
Cuddihy’s love for Australia’s picturesque coastlines often took him on underwater adventures, collecting various debris that had found its way to the seafloor.
His routine snorkeling trips around Noosa’s points, when the surf was calm, allowed him to encounter mesmerizing marine life and explore the local turtle population.
Lately, he had observed an influx of unusual objects that didn’t belong there, prompting him to dedicate a weekly snorkeling expedition to collecting garbage, such as surfboard fins and fishing lures, which got wedged between rocks.
This wasn’t the first time Cuddihy had discovered a valuable item while exploring the ocean depths. Through his Instagram posts showcasing his findings, he had managed to reunite a lost surfboard fin with its rightful owner, a fellow surfer who had misplaced it at the same spot where Cuddihy had found it.
Another notable reunion was with an Apple Watch that had succumbed to the waves. Cuddihy’s keen eye and dedication to his community led him to find the lost timepiece and return it to its grateful owner.
As for the Rolex Submariner, Cuddihy entrusted it to a friend who has a passion for collecting these iconic timepieces. An evaluation and inspection by experts are in progress, ensuring that the watch receives the care it deserves.