Underwater Pumpkin Carving - Where/When, How-to Hints, Pics

[mselenaous]

umpkin:'Tis the season for Underwater Pumpkin Carving Activities.

This thread was inspired by the article in Alert Diver to "Carve with Care"

In addition to staying safe, let's share the fun too!
1-Please share the where/when, etc. of your local events and then
2-Please share your best How-to tips for other underwater carvers
3-Come back and share fun pics of the festivities. The pics are always creative and fun. If you don't have any from this year, share some of your favorites from yesteryears.

(stock Google image)​

 

[bilsant]

Sometimes nontraditional is fun...

 

[shoredivr]

If your pumpkin carving rules allow it, put the pumpkin in a mesh gear bag with a three pound weight.

*edit* cut a hole when you first submerge to let the air out of the pumpkin if rules allow this, way less struggle to keep it down.

As you carve, you can put the pieces in there so they don't float away and make a mess of the shoreline of your local dive hole.

I will dig up some photos when I'm home.

 

[mselenaous]

Someone posted this cute one of FB:

 

[shoredivr]

Ok so here are some shots from years past, including a method for getting pumpkins down underwater by handcart that, shall we say, had limited success.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

 

[Sheri SGR]

Had a great time last year carving a pumpkin in San Diego. Clean the pumpkin ahead of time, put it in a mesh bag with some extra weights in it (3-4 pounds depending on size of pumpkin) Using a small knife (I used Spyderco) or carving tool (plastic) works great underwater. Definitely draw your design on ahead of time instead of trying to freehand. Lastly - HAVE FUN!!!

Diving Life/Pumpkin Carving Contest

 

[SC_Hoaty]

Local rules require carving be done with a diver's tool. That adds a twist.

 

[bilsant]

Gold Coast Scuba's Meetup Group is having a contest at Lauderdale By The Sea on the 28th and the shop is putting up some nice prizes. I don't know what others are going on in this area. Anyone else posting contests?

 

[LowDrag]

Our LDS did a pumpkin carving contest this past weekend at Sunrise Motel on the Puget Sound. Unfortunately, my wife and I were not able to go due to her needing to have a spinal surgery at the neck level. I will see if some of the divers that went will give me some pic's to post.