Divers make a splash at Kinosoo Beach with underwater pumpkin carving and lake clean-up

By Chantel Downes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeland This Week

Professional diver and scuba instructor Stuart Dunnill led the event, combining environmental care with a creative underwater challenge. “We’re continuously doing lake cleanups here. We’ve been doing it for over 20 years. Back when I was in the Navy, I would do the pumpkin carving in Victoria,” Dunnill explained. 

He said the idea came from his past diving experiences on the West Coast, where he first saw how engaging underwater pumpkin carving could be. Now, he’s brought that same concept to Cold Lake as part of a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) specialty dive that he teaches. 

Before any carving began, the divers focused on cleaning up the lake.  

“So first, they’re going to go down and do a cleanup all the way up to the swim marker line, picking up any pop cans, beer cans, whatever garbage is out there,” Dunnill said. About eight divers participated this year. Items often include things such as beverage containers, sunglasses, kids’ toys, and other things that may sink into the water. 

During the previous spring cleanup at the marina, the group removed 1,700 pounds of garbage and continues to keep the area tidy. 

Once the most recent clean-up was done, divers got to practice buoyancy control by carving pumpkins underwater.  

“Pumpkins float. So, they got to hold it and carve it at the same time,” Dunnill said, explaining that they typically carve at depths of about 10 to 12 feet. 

Divers used mesh bags and anchors to keep their pumpkins underwater while carving. 

Dunnill added that the contest is all about participation, not perfection. “We don’t care how ugly they are. It’s just the thrill of doing it. It’s the thought of doing it.” 

He added that beyond the fun, the clean-up is a reminder of why divers take stewardship seriously.  

“The last thing we want is some of these bottles or cans to float into areas where kids are swimming. They step on it and cut their feet. Having birds pick up the garbage or the fish eating the plastic. Just general husbandry of the lake.” 

For Dunnill, events like this help keep Cold Lake beautiful while giving divers a chance to practice their craft in an engaging way – one pumpkin at a time.