With temps in the low 70s and clear beautiful skies, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004, was a beautiful day to celebrate the end of the scuba season at the 3rd Annual Underwater Pumpking Carving Contest. We had our biggest turn out ever with 37 divers/pumpkin carvers and 10 nondivers. In addition, Lyn Campbell, PADI Master Instructor, certified 11 divers as PADI Underwater Pumpkin Carving Specialists!

Every year the pumpking carving entries get better and better! Nobody envied the job of the judges! Chris Ellis from Midwest Scuba, Jaclyn Allison from Scuba Shop USA and Art from The Dive Shop chose the following for prizes:

Scariest Pumpkin:
John Ott with "The Scuba Scream" won a dive light and dry bag

Most Humorous Pumpkin:
Brian Sutkus with "Gun" won a Dive Rite octo and gear bag

Best Dive-Related Pumpkin:
Mike Thomas with "Life's a Beach" won a brass diving helmet donated by Innovative Scuba Concepts

Most Creative Pumpkin:
Janice Homan with "The Aquarium" won an IST gear bag

Best Overall Pumpkin
went to Don Homan's "Flame." He won a Bonica camera with hard case.

Midwest Scuba, Scuba Shop USA and The Dive Shop would like to extend a special thank you to all staff members that helped organize and run the event. A special thank you to Dana McCord who volunteered to stand over the BBQ'er all day cooking up hot dogs.

On any other normal October day, that would have been the choice job (standing over a hot fire), but this year, with such beautiful weather, she regreted not bringing sunscreen.

And, of course, a big thanks to all the companies who donated prizes. Their generous support is greatly appreciated!