Chapter 10- Other Diving Specialties
Other Diving Specialties
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and licensing requirements. Also, be sure the ones you
do catch meet the minimum size requirement. Bringing
home legal-sized lobsters means more than just good
food for a meal; the lobsters are usually accompanied by
a diver who is proud of the catch (figure 10-4)!
Crabs are not as difficult to catch, but it can still be
enjoyable to hunt for them. Since crabs are capable of
regenerating lost limbs, some divers take just one claw
from a crab. The animal will live as long as it has one
claw with which to feed and defend itself. Check local fish
and game regulations as to the legality of this practice in
your area. It isn’t often that you can take a meal from the
ocean and leave one there for another day as well.
Shrimp, crayfish, and prawns are similar to lobster,
but smaller. They are found in abundance in some areas
and during certain seasons. No matter how many you
may encounter, take only what you need so there will be
more of the animals for generations to come.
Abalone are merely giant ocean snails, growing up
to a foot in diameter, but they are extremely tasty and
considered a gourmet food. They are found on rocks in
Pacific waters. Some of the largest abalone in the world
live in the ocean off the Western coast of the United
States. These animals attach themselves to the rocks
with a large, suction foot; and a special tool, called an
“Ab Iron” is required to dislodge them. There are several
types of abalone. All of them are edible, but some species
are more tender and tasty than others. You should learn
how to take abalone if they are found in your area and
you are interested in hunting for them. You will learn
such things as the importance of not cutting an abalone
when you remove it from a rock. If it is undersized and
you put it back, it will die if it is cut because the blood of
these animals does not clot and they will bleed to death.
As with all diving special interests, it is always a good
idea to learn how to do something from instructors experienced
in the activity.
Scallops are bivalves found on rocks, reefs, wrecks
or any solid structure. Some scallops are free swimmers,
while others are free swimmers in their infancy
until they find a suitable location on which to spend the
remainder of their lives. Attached scallops are visible to
the trained eye because the shell is usually slightly open
until disturbed, and the mantle of the animal inside can
be detected. The slightest disturbance usually causes the
well-camouflaged shell to close, and the animal becomes
almost invisible in its surroundings. A knife or diver’s tool
is required to break the animal loose. It is not uncommon
to find scallops in abundance in some areas, and they
make an excellent meal.
Clams are typically found in muddy or sandy bottoms
in both fresh and salt water. They are well known
for their flavor. Clams may be difficult to locate and hard
to get, depending on the visibility, the bottom composition,
and the depth to which the animal is buried. Part of
the fun of hunting, however, is in overcoming the obstacles
to get a catch!
COLLECTING
Divers can bring home trophies other than game.
Rocks, bottles, artifacts, shells, algae, and other items
are sought and treasured by divers who love collecting
such items from the realm beneath the waters. Collecting
can be a non-destructive pastime; or the collection of
certain things, such as tropical fish and sea shells, can
require conservation practices similar to those presented
for hunting. When you think about taking something,
you should always consider the impact it will have on the
environment and on other divers who may dive in the
same area.
Among the most popular items sought by underwater
collectors are bottles. Not only are they unusual and
a good means to recall memories of diving, they can be
of historical and monetary value. Antique bottles can be
worth hundreds of dollars, so it is easy to see why they
are the objective of many divers. Researching books and
the internet to identify specific bottles and document
them according to their era, use, etc., is satisfying and
educational.
Many divers find great pleasure in bottle collecting.
In some areas where bottle collecting is popular, you may
find bottles stuck into the bottom upside down. This means
that the bottle has been found by another collector who
has inspected it and found it to be of no particular value.
Tidbits of information such as this can be learned and
shared with other underwater bottle collectors. Collecting