In the early fall we start thinking about leaves turning colors, evenings getting cooler, and kids in fantasy costumes knocking on the door yelling “Trick or Treat.” But for those of us who seek our pleasures in Neptune’s realm this is Halloween Scuba. And we’re thinking of carving pumpkins at twenty feet.

It happens every year. Scuba clubs all across the country schedule pumpkin carving contests to see who can carve the most hideous, most creative, scariest pumpkin for Halloween.

The rules for this event vary from club-to-club. I belong to two different local clubs myself, and the underwater pumpkin carving rules are not the same for both clubs.

One club follows these rules:

 

Must be underwater. I don’t think I ever heard that you must be below a specific depth, but since a dive starts when you pass three feet I guess any depth after that works.

 

Can carve with any tool you can safely carry underwater. Use special pumpkin carving tools, kitchen knives, or dive knives, except no machetes or explosives.

 

No stencils.

 

Pumpkin must pass a “tech inspection” before water entrance. But you can stow decorations in your buoyancy control device as a surprise.

 

Carve as a buddy team, or by yourself.

 

Voting starts when all carved pumpkins are on the display table. Prizes awarded for first, second, and third place.

 

Anyone standing around the area at the time may vote. Not limited to divers, or even club members.

 

Winners have bragging rights for eternity.

 

And the other club has fewer (but a little stricter) rules as follows:

 

Must use a dive knife.

 

Must be at least 15-feet below the surface before you start carving.

 

No cutting into the pumpkin before you reach 15-feet of depth.

 

I have to tell you that carving a pumpkin is not easy when you’re using one of those big dive knives that some divers strap to their legs. Have you seen, or used, those things? They’re almost Bowiesque in size.

But I’ve seen some fantastic creations come out of the water after pumpkins went under the edge of those knives.

Some divers are pumpkin carving masters. And with their dive knife they’ll put any little pumpkin carving tool wielder to shame.

I don’t recall ever seeing anybody take a template for pumpkin carving underwater with them. Most divers have a picture in their mind, and they do their Halloween Scuba pumpkin carvings from those pictures.

But if you’d like an idea for your pumpkin carving underwater this Halloween Scuba season perhaps you’d like to try your hand at re-creating the pumpkin below.

 

 

If you're really good you can leave that regulator on shore, and carve it on your underwater scuba pumpkin too.