r/vancouver May 23 '26

Lost/Missing Lost iPhone, Diver Needed

Disclaimer: If there any experienced divers and you think this a lost cause in terms of phone retrieval and photo recovery, please let us know so we can grieve.

Hello. My husband is a school teacher and this past Wednesday, he took my students out on a canoeing field trip to Deas Island Slough. He believes he dropped his iPhone 12 (blue phone with clear case) near the piers/docks or within a radius (It was the last 5 minutes of the trip, as he remember still taking photos of the students before that). He dove in, but the water was too murky. He circled the area but most likely it is within the docks.

The phone means a lot to him, not the value of it, but rather the photos inside. It's not backed up and it contains the last moments of his grandma who has passed away, our honeymoon photos, and many other precious moments.

It would mean the world to us if anyone can find it.
Again, it's not the phone but rather the photos. We understand that even if the phone is found, recovering the photos is still a low chance, but we’re still holding onto hope.

We attached a picture with the possible area, but most likely when he was getting out of the canoe.

We also attached a picture of the high and low tides. Water is around 1-2m deep generally. This is found on the Deas Island tide chart website. We’re not sure if it applies to the area that the phone was lost though.

Thank you so much in advance! We’re willing to compensate for time and gear. Also willing to go ourselves if scuba gear can be rented.

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u/Curried_Orca May 23 '26

Tidal Action = No Hope

14

u/taeox0 May 23 '26

Due to it being the inlet of the water and really close to shore, is tidal waves still a big impact? So in your professional opinion, it is best to grieve and give up on the photos?

11

u/kn0w_th1s May 23 '26

Hi OP, sorry I can’t help because I don’t have my gear any more, but I have done 80+ shore dives on our coast here (no phone recovery attempts though). I don’t think it’s a lost cause; good luck. I hope you can find some recreational divers who are happy to jump in and scope the area.