[Eetrab]

Go to the wild and raid people's chests. There are usually a few diamonds here and there.

[The-Jack-DeCk]

In reference to the block directly beneath your feet, you should mine standing on level 9 (eye position 11). Another alternative would be to mine standing on level 5 (eye position 7).

Those two levels are statistically the best, although other levels yield almost the same amount. Do not ever mine above eye position 12 though, the rate of diamonds you find will plummet if you are at eye level 13.

Hope that helps.

[dlgn]

In reference to the block directly beneath your feet, you should mine standing on level 9 (eye position 11). Another alternative would be to mine standing on level 5 (eye position 7).

Those two levels are statistically the best, although other levels yield almost the same amount. Do not ever mine above eye position 12 though, the rate of diamonds you find will plummet if you are at eye level 13.

Hope that helps.

Really? I've always heard (and seen) that the concentration of diamonds is highest at 10-16. And 11 is lava level, hence my decision to mine at 12.

[Bu1ld0g]

This might help

[eah]

This might help

In reference this chart, standing on "x" will be feet position x+1.

[cubeguy314]

Theoretically, if you mine in a straight line, you should find diamonds eventually...

[Bu1ld0g]

This might help

In reference this chart, standing on "x" will be feet position x+1.

Nope....I mine at Y5 (show in F3 as Y5 or eye level) and Y12 (again as Y12 using F3) and always find dia at that level.
Saying that a beacon and an EffV do a much better job and just clear the whole lot.
I have cleared several of my realms that include some Swiss cheesed with strip mines and still find dia they completely missed using the the Y5/Y12+1 theory, one being an 8 block vein!