UW Pumpkin Carving--Mermet Springs, IL

[theskull]

This weekend we certified another 14 divers as Underwater Pumpkin Carvers--a PADI specialty. The certification requires 2 dives, one as the pumpkin carver and one as the pumpkin wrangler(sinks the pumpkin and secures it while the carver cuts). It also includes a briefing on safety and on containment of the cut out parts to prevent messing up the dive site.

Another dozen of so divers participated in the event but not in the cert (although some of the additional divers already own the card).

The viz was great, with 15 ft. viz in the shallow water and 20-25 ft. viz in the deep water, except for the very bottom of the deep end where it was only about 5 ft. Water temp was app. 65 F at the surface, and in the high 50s down to about 40 ft. depth, where it gradually got colder until the usual 42 F at the bottom. Lots of spoonbill were about, and the night dive was populated by many hunting bass.

A very pleasant weekend of fun diving and pumpkin carving.

theskull

[h2odragon1]

And the "PADI" cert was only $100, right? plus the cost of the pumpkin.

[theskull]

LOL! We only charge the cost of the card, which I believe is $15. The pumpkins are donated by a local farmer. And we provide a free lunch of chili dogs and chips, and underwater trick-or-treating for hermetically sealed candy.

And every pumpkin wins the contest in its own category, though there are no prizes.

theskull

[calcoin]

I am a PADI/NAUI instructor and was wanting to offer the UW pumpkin carving cert to the students that I have certified over the past two years. Could you give me an idea of what some of the skills you required of your students? I guess I need to sit down and write an outline. Thanks Lisa calcoin@yahoo.com

[nauifins]

Sounds like a fun cert. to get. I wish Mermet was closer. It is a great divesite.