A true story

[Pilar]

There was once a small community of divers who harvested clams and sold them commercially. It still goes on today but the community is shattered by one or more individuals who made money now more important than clams tomorrow. At the outset the community of divers agreed in practice and in principle to leave certain areas untouched to make nursery beds to replenish the bays with new clams. They were small but rich beds that never got any pressure. This worked well and occasionally a new guy would come along and join the clam hunters. The demise of this fishery is another story although it has lessons that apply to our community. Maybe the guy or guys who were actually there can tell that story. Better that way than my third or fourth hand in it.

Clamming this way is done is shallow water in a wetsuit and extra weight to hold the diver down. A hookah, which is an air compressor on a raft or in the boat, is used to save on tank fills. The diver swims around dragging a hose, dogpaddles the mud and sand off the bottom in a running tide which reveals the clams. He then rakes them into a bag or basket on a line and hauls them up to the boat. In shallow water you can dive for hours without concern for nitrogen related problems. This is why most of these guys used the compressor on a raft or the hookah. Of course a piece of equipment like this is expensive and divers are ingenious guys. SO they make their own stuff.

A new diver joined the community and got permitted to harvest and also as a fish dealer so he could sell his catch. This knowledge was shared with him by the other men on the bay. Where to fish was also explained and you can’t really hide a dive boat on a small bay. Through many shared (although competitive) trips working around the other divers the new guy was accepted.

One day the new guy asked one of the old guys about a hookah and how to make one. The old man told him what to buy and where but held off on the actual details. This puzzled the new diver and finally after many conversations and days spent on the water working nearby he asked it straight out.

“Why won’t you tell me more about building the Hookah?”

‘I can’t, sorry please don’t ask again.’

“Man that is harsh .. you have given me so much and made it possible for me to make a living at this job why not this one thing?”

They were done for the day and putting washed dive gear into trucks and getting ready to leave for town and the markets that would buy the clams. The old man sighed heavily and sat down.

‘Look you would not understand and I don’t really want to think about it anymore, let it go’

“Just an explanation, that’s all I want. I’ll figure out how to make one but I want an explanation of why you will not help me.”

‘Ok .. here it is. I once helped a guy much like you. In fact you remind me of him. Young, eager and full of himself. He would listen up to a point but he was ready to charge into it before hearing the whole thing out. He was a good guy but hard headed and I could never know for sure if he heard everything I told him.’

“Like me .. hmmmm”

‘Yes. It turns out some of the details he missed or thought he already knew were pretty important. You are like that too. Finishing the sentence before someone trying to tell you something does, diving alone and some other stuff I’ve seen.’

“Some of you old timers dive alone.”

‘True and we are taking a risk doing so. A calculated risk based on experience. Still not safe and not a good idea to be the only boat on the clam beds but at least I know the risks after doing this for so long. I’m not sure if you get the risks. I know you have not seen any of your friends die. I’ll get to the point. I taught that other new guy how to build a houka. He did that and it worked for him. As far as I knew he heard every word and did exactly what I told him. Then one day I got a phone call. The guy was dead. He was out on the bay alone and got carbon monoxide poisoned. He died on the bottom and was found by fishermen.’

“Damn, what happened?”

‘He missed the part about the air intake mast. It absolutely must be on the other end of the boat from the engine on the houka and at least 15 feet long. Small detail but the only way to keep the exhaust out of your regulator. Small detail lost in arrogance and a lack of experience.’

“That’s not your fault old timer, he did not listen to you.”

‘Yeah, much like someone else I know. It does not matter if I am not at fault. I have to live and dive here. That family still lives here. And I run into them from time to time in the store or on the street. They think it was my fault and I have to endure those accusing looks for as long as I live here in the same town. So no I will not show you how to make your houka, nothing personal, I hope you understand.’


That’s the story. It is not about any of you. But you will see some of all of us in it. We have not lost a boat or crew among those who do this strictly for fun. Several charters have gone down with licensed skippers driving them. Guys with years of experience.

I don’t want to go to your funeral. Realize your limitations.

Peace .. your humble story teller.

[fyshndad]

As a Captain with many many years behind me I get it John
A very nice way of you to say something that needed to be said

[earlybird007]

[siletzsal]

Thanks for the story. I hope it is read by all!

Don

[Spindrifter]

Thanks John, nice read

[boelkhtr]

Thanks for the story John, wisdom....

Reflection, I will never finish another sentence. Sharpen the skill, Listen.

Herman

[Fish-a-Holic]

John, thanks for the read and the words of wisdom. Oh, do I see myself in that story... I always have to remind myself, listen...listen, otherwise you might miss that incredibly important point.

Thanks!

[Big Billy]

thanks John

[wavechaser]

AWESOME

Making people think with insightful real life examples helps much more than shallow, thoughtless scare tactics. Nobody can scare stubborn gung-ho types like myself off the ocean, but words of wisdom can make us stop and think of the consequences of our decisions.

[Pilar]

When you hear an old dog like me barking it is because we see and hear things and wonder if the person doing them is going to be ok. It would be easier maybe to look the other way and let it be someone else's problem .. but that is not what we do. Any of us. This group takes care of it's own and that defines us as a group.

I taught some of you things that you now use to run around offshore. Not just me teaching you but many of us. I often hear people thanking me. This is not unwelcome, I am grateful but it is not necessary. Thank me by passing what you are learning on to others. Thank me by telling the stories that you might be embarrassed to tell because others may learn from what details you overlooked and what trouble you got yourself into. Thank me and the other old dogs by looking out for each other on the water. This part of our thing is a constant amazement for me. We do this part well and have much to teach others about it.

Back to the metaphor.

I helped you build the dive air compressor, the hookah. Some of you were already diving and some needed only to hear about the fishing and took off on your own. I did some pretty stupid things when I was first learning. Even now I make a few mistakes when I get complacent. Luckily I've seen a few things too and can draw on that when I get in trouble. You don't have to make all of those mistakes. Unlike then we now have a community and many who are adept at being a contributing part of it. The learning curve is much shorter now. But the penalty for getting caught short on preparation, support offshore or experience is still the same.

I'm going to stop banging the drum now. Many of you are thinking again and my work here is done.

I still worry about the nursery clam beds but that is my choice.

[Sea Saw]

Great story !
Do you happen to know who Og Mandino is (was I guess).Kinda reminds me of his stories.

[RexArm]

I had the privilege to go out with you tuna fishing for my first time recently, and I noted how you were able to explain with great clarity, how you wanted each task performed. You are a great teacher. I can only hope I wasn't too "green" for the deck.I learned a few things, mostly that raw tuna heart will not kill me. I did enjoy the trip even though the fishing was kind of slow. I wanted to post sooner and say "thanks", but it took a little while to get registered and (blah blah blah).
Anyway, thanks for the seat and I would definately sign on again should the opportunity arise.

Pat