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Noosa Heads, Australia--In a story that sounds straight from a treasure-hunting movie, Australian surfer Matt Cuddihy recently unearthed a vintage Rolex Submariner while snorkeling at Noosa Heads, a coastal town in Australia.

[Image via mattcuddihy/Instagram]

According to a report by LuxuryLaunches, the world-ranked surfer was enjoying his usual snorkeling routine when he noticed the landscape had changed due to a sand shift, exposing more rocks than usual. Cuddihy found seven surfboard fins among the rocks and a Rolex Submariner lodged under a rock.

“I was just snorkeling around the same areas I normally go to in Noosa, and there seemed to be a bit of sand that had shifted and exposed more rocks than normal,” shared Cuddihy in an interview with Fratello. “I found seven surfboard fins wedged between rocks. Looking over, I noticed a Rolex Submariner with its band caught under a rock.” Initially, due to its poor condition, the surfer thought it was a cheap imitation until he realized he had found a genuine vintage Rolex.

The report noted that the Rolex, specifically a no-date Submariner reference 5513, which Rolex produced from the early 1960s to the late 1980s, was in a severely worn condition. Its case and bezel were almost entirely covered in sea debris, and the crystal over the dial was deeply scuffed. Despite these conditions, the watch still works, demonstrating the resilience and durability of the Submariner model, originally designed for diving.

As per the report, Cuddihy's discovery underscores the timeless appeal of Rolex watches, especially models like the Submariner. Given their robust construction and classic design, these watches have maintained their desirability and value over the years, often fetching high prices on the resale market. Cuddihy, however, lucked out by finding his vintage Rolex in the most unexpected of places - under a rock in the Pacific Ocean.

Learn more in the full LuxuryLaunches report.