How to: Make an Underwater Viewer

Interesting insects, colorful fish and camouflaged crawdads await discovery just beneath the riffles of a stream. Build an underwater viewer to calm the water and see what you’ve been missing.

Gather These Supplies

• A coffee can, potato chip tube or other cylinder-shaped food container
• Clear plastic wrap
• Rubber bands
• Duct tape

Build your viewer

• Ask an adult to cut out the bottom of a coffee can or other food container. This will make a tube that’s open on both ends.
• Stretch a piece of plastic wrap over one end of the tube to form a smooth, tight window. Snap a rubber band around the tube to hold the plastic in place.
• Wrap duct tape around the tube to seal the plastic wrap. It may take several rounds of tape to make the plastic wrap waterproof.
• Head to your favorite stream, lower the window of the viewer into the water, and see how many cool creatures you can spot