About this season
In the frontier town of Nome, Alaska, there’s a gold rush on. But you've never seen gold mining like this before — here, the precious metal isn't found in the ground. It’s sitting in the most unlikely of places: the bottom of the frigid, unpredictable Bering Sea. And there are a handful of people willing to risk it all to bring it to the surface.
Episodes (8)
1. Paydirt
Aired 27 January 2012 • 44 min
In Nome, Alaska, the gold rush is on. Meet the dredgers, driven by gold fever and sometimes desperate need, who pilot their ragtag dredges and dive with hoses to suck up gold from the bottom of the frigid, unpredictable Bering Sea.
2. One Bad Deal
Aired 3 February 2012 • 44 min
A bar brawl threatens not only Shawn's health but the Christine Rose's future. The Wild Ranger's luck is getting worse as they're down a man and have sprung a leak. The Sluicey's Ian calls in a friend who offers both experience and criticism.
3. Suction
Aired 10 February 2012 • 44 min
The weather may be perfect, but storms are brewing onboard the dredges as egos clash and tempers flare. Emily's first dive is almost her last when she learns the dangers of dredging first-hand.
4. A Viking Funeral
Aired 17 February 2012 • 44 min
The season is halfway over, and tensions are running high as the dredgers search for new sweet spots. An accident with the 15 ton excavator threatens to end one deckhand's season.
5. Captaincy
Aired 24 February 2012 • 44 min
A season of simmering grievances comes to a boil. Wild Ranger owner Vern fires one of his crew. Emily falling overboard and a blocked sluice box test Zeke's patience. Rocks falling out of a faulty sluice box rain down on solo-diving Scott Foster's head.
6. Eureka!
Aired 2 March 2012 • 44 min
Bad luck and bad vibes. The crews have a car accident on the way home from some hot springs R&R. A hastily welded winch roller gives way, releasing a cable that lashes Cody's leg and sends him overboard. Scott dives with an injured leg out of stubborness.
7. Bad Vibrations
Aired 9 March 2012 • 44 min
The dredging season is quickly coming to an end, and so are once trusted relationships between Zeke and Emily as well as Scott F and Ian. Shawn sends crewmember Robbi packing while Scott M swallows his pride and invites Steve back. But will he accept?
8. The Bitter End
Aired 16 March 2012 • 44 min
Winter sets in. The now short-staffed crews try to go out once more before the ice blocks them in. Each on their own, Emily salvages and Scott M finds salvation. The crews take their earnings and face off at an auction for next year's dredging grounds.