SOLVED. YA Fantasy about a green, frog-like, artifact with a serious agenda within which the young salvage diver that found it becomes enmeshed. Read around 1974.

[Lucien]

Since I started reading this book back when I was in grade-school, having checked it out at the school library, I haven't a clue as to when this was published. I'm assuming it was YA because although I was exceptionally precocious, and read far above my age level, I was also crushing on Laura Ingalls Wilder at the time, who, in the TV series, would have been a few years older than me (circa 1974).

But anyhow...as far as I can at all remember, the story in question starts out with an earthquake off of the California coast (probably) which dislodges a green stone artifact in the form of an amphibious alien species, and which is then found, and retrieved, by a young man who helps out in his father's business (as a salvage diver, probably). Thing is though, the green stone artifact is not made of stone. Not hardly. In fact, it is very much alive! And it is awakening. And it has plans.

[Rainbowheart]

Stranger from the Depths

[Lucien]

Rainbowheart, I think you might be right, so let's call this one probably solved, and may I be forgiven for turning a Tsunami into an earthquake some forty years after the fact. Memory does strange things. I will report back to confirm.

[Lucien]

Yup! Stranger from the Depths it is, Rainbowheart.

Solved. Many thanks. :)

[Rainbowheart]

Awesome, super glad to help out!