But let’s suppose that you are not swimming under water nor are you inclined to stick your face in the water either. Is there a way to look under water with the same clarity without a divers mask or goggles? And for that matter, why would you want to look below the surface of the water anyway?

Perhaps you want to see where the fish are hanging out under the dock for strategic fishing, or, perhaps you dropped something important overboard like your keys or fishing gear. Seeing where it is will help you retrieve it. Hopefully you have packed a Pringles potato chip can or similar clear-top cannister in your picnic basket or perhaps you can obtain one close by. You can modify this simple container into a spyglass for under water viewing.

First, remove the clear plastic lid and the foil seal beneath it and empty (eat!) the contents. Then, use adhesive tape to seal the lid back onto the canister rim, making sure that it’s water-tight. Next, open the bottom with a P38 can opener or just cut it off below the metal rim. Now, invert the can so that the lid is placed into the water just below the surface while the can’s bottom is topside. You can peer down the cannister tube and see into the water with clarity like a diver’s mask.

When the water is clear and without turbidity it’s amazing to see the depth and detail of the subteranean world. These commom materials will enable you to make this simple device for use in an impromptu or emergency situation.

My friend also share that her husband used to work in the forest service and had to use duct tape all the time to fix shoes or broken gear. He didn’t want to pack any extra weight so he put it on his water bottle. The most interesting time when the duct tape was needed was when he almost chopped his foot off with an axe. He had to walk 12 miles back to civilization to go to the hospital. He said he cut a long strip off his shirt and wrapped it around the cut in a pseudo tourniquet. Then he duct-taped around it to hold it on and offer a little more protection. That worked pretty well but he said he still bled through his bandage, sock, and shoe and left bloody footprints on the trail. She said “I’m sure God had his hand in that one so he is still here with us today.” “We would never go backpacking without it.”

I guess the important point is that they had duct tape WITH THEM on the trail. In a previous blog “Repackaging Duct Tape” I show ways to carry duct tape in a compact way. Their method of wrapping it around their water bottle keeps it ready at hand. Be prepared and find a method that works for you.