Anyone can carve a pumpkin on the kitchen table. South Florida Beach Divers do it on the ocean floor surrounded by admiring fish. This is a fun event designed to bring out the creative streak in every diver. Every year, we see pumpkins that stagger the imagination.

Show up for the dive with a pumpkin ready for your design. You can clean out the guts first but pumpkins cannot have designs preprinted or precut. Everyone starts with a clean pumpkin. Buddy teams can share a pumpkin or each can enter separately. If you need a buddy, you are sure to find one among the participants. If you just want to photograph the crazy action beneath the waves, make sure your batteries are fresh so you won't miss anything.

Other equipment you will want to bring include a mesh bag to carry your pumpkin to and from the site and a 2-4 lb weight to keep your pumpkin from floating away as you carve. We will enter the surf in a protected cove and swim out to an appropriate depth for pumpkin carving. Buddy teams can anchor themselves on the bottom, which is mostly sand for the first 100 yards out. Following the creative portion, buddies can explore the reef before returning for the judging and picnic.

Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park entrance fees are $4 per single occupant and $6 per carload. That price covers parking and amenities, such as clean restrooms, showers, and picnic tables.

RENTAL GEAR IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS DIVE. Air tanks $15, BCD's $20, Regulator set $20, mask or fins, $10; mask and fins combo $15; weights (any amount) $5. Please state your size when renting a BCD or Fins. Payable in advance by Venmo(@beachdiver), CashApp($beachdiver), PayPal(tcarpenterjr@gmail.com), or credit card. Please make your request at least 6 hours before the scheduled event time.

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU ARE NOT PREPAID, WE MAY NOT HAVE GEAR AVAILABLE AT THE DIVE SITE. WE LOAD RENTAL GEAR BASED ON CONFIRMED (PAID) RENTALS.