Sea Lancers Diving Club 50th Anniversary

[fishb0y]

It looks like I have found all the people that over-bid me on e-bay for the vintage regulators I have been trying to buy.

Anyhow, I am a member of the Sea Lancers Diving Club out of Hickam AFB on the lovely island of Oahu, and we are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. That makes us the oldest military dive club and the second oldest in existence.

I understand that in the earlier issues of SKINDIVER, there were club articles and announcements. I was wondering if someone could dust off a couple of issues and scan in the articles and covers.

We have found 4 or 5 of the founding members and I am working on a power point presentation to run during the banquet in September.

Again, any help would be most appriciated.

[21]

["fishb0y" I am a member of the Sea Lancers Diving Club out of Hickam AFB on the lovely island of Oahu, and we are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. That makes us the oldest military dive club and the second oldest in existence.]

FYI

There were many many dive clubs formed prior to 1956 that are still in existance and still very active. Most all of them are from Southern California. Those that come immediately to mind are;
Bottom Scratchers 1933
Long Beach Neptunes 1947
Sea Sabres 1951
Compton Dolphins 1952.
Boston Sea Rovers 1954

Would suggest that you review SDM May 1958 and SDM January 1963 issues for listings of known active Skin and Scuba diving clubs

21

[fishb0y]

FYI

There were many many dive clubs formed prior to 1956 that are still in existance and still very active. Most all of them are from Southern California. Those that come immediately to mind are;
Bottom Scratchers 1933
Long Beach Neptunes 1947
Sea Sabres 1951
Compton Dolphins 1952.
Boston Sea Rovers 1954

Would suggest that you review SDM May 1958 and SDM January 1963 issues for listings of known active Skin and Scuba diving clubs

21

You may be correct, I'm going off someone else's info. I am pretty sure we are the oldest military dive club. That's why I'm here though... there is lots about this sport that I would like to learn.

Am I correct that Bottom Scratchers no longer exists?http://www.freedive.net/bottom_scratche ... tchers.htm

[21]

"You may be correct,"

I am correct. I do not post statements that cannot be verified.

"Am I correct that Bottom Scratchers no longer exists?http://www.freedive.net/bottom_scratche ... tchers.htm"

As you read in Terry's Press release the San Diego Bottom Scratchers no longer conduct club meetings. However, they are still very active in providing advice and guidance to the newer members of the tribe. Therefore are still very much an active viable organization both in name and contributions. That is why they were and will always be at the top of the list of clubs.

They are, each and every one, national diving treasures. They have given so much to the sport and received so little recognition in return.

Your name is "fishbOy" which apparently relates to Fish, perhaps spearfishing. The Bottom Scratchers were the fathers of spear fishing in the US, beginning with crude pole spears in the early 1930s. By 1939 had developed and were using the famous Bottom Scratcher rubber powered gun. A few years later it was Jack who perfected the 22 cal point impact "Power head."

Contrast those developments with the concurrent diving activity of Hawaii. The only known documentation is contained in seven pages of an obscure book authored by Edward Hosaka in 1944 titled "Sportfishing in Hawaii." It will be noted that Hawaiians at that time considered a multi prong pole spear as state if the art and were taking small reef fish, whereas the Bottom Scratchers were sticking large WSB and even larger BSB using the large powerful rubber powered Bottom Scratcher gun and point impact powerheads.

Good luck with your reunion.

21

[fishb0y]

21,

Please do not think I am disputing your knowledge. Maybe I should have researched my claim that we are the second oldest continually running dive club.

As a fairly recent member of Sea Lancers, I had the privilege of meeting a couple of our founding members and had a great discussion on what it was like to dive in Hawaii back in the 50's. I thought I would follow through and bring in Turtleguy to show us his collection of dive gear, some of which dating back to the time they were diving. All I am trying to do is honor those pioneers with a humble presentation for our 50th celebration.

To this day, Sea Lancers is helping out military members who are new to the sport by offering low cost boat dives, while giving them a place to meet like minded people who they can share their love of the sport with. We also have members who have been with the club since the mid-60's who are active divers to this day. You should hear their stories about how they would "borrow" PRK fire extinguishers so that they could have a scuba tank. The club's first dive boat was originally a rescue boat made out of a WW2 drop tank, that an airplane would drop to the crew of a fallen airplane. While we may only have been spearing 20# Uhu instead of 200# grouper, I guess you could say that Sea Lancers was an innovative club for the Military personnel in Hawaii. You could say that we are in the business of diving, not the dive business.

After meeting the founders of Sea Lancers and seeing Turtleguys great collection, I have decided to try diving double 50's with an Aquamaster, instead of double 120's with 2 Apex TX100s, SPG, canister light, donut BP/W, 2 stage bottles and all the other equipment I regularly dove with (of course I won't be doing 200' dives with my Aquamaster).

21, thank you for your information about the other clubs that are still in existence, hopefully with other people's help, I can put Sea Lancers on your list of the under appreciated, but highly innovative dive clubs.

[Justleesa]

Aloha Fishb0y!

Glad that you finally got your bid thru on ebay and won a DH reg!

Now all you need to do is make sure that it is good working order, then it's time to dive it

If you were ready when we have your picknic/our get together on June 10th...I'd say that we would have to bring along an extra backpack and what ever else is needed and get you diving vintage.

We had a wonderful time and I really envy you all for your "vintage" club house. I've always wanted a building like that to make into a home (Miss creative speaking here ).

So welcome to VDH and I hope to dive with you soon so you can join NAVED too!

Aloha,
Lisa

[fishb0y]

Thanks,

I manged to find what I believe to be a steel72 with a pipe thread valve. It was hiding in the back of the clubhouse, with a couple of other finds. I put it in the hydro rack yesterday, so hopefully I will have that to dive with.

[Justleesa]

Like you said, bit by bit

[fishb0y]

The only known documentation is contained in seven pages of an obscure book authored by Edward Hosaka in 1944 titled "Sport Fishing in Hawaii." It will be noted that Hawaiians at that time considered a multiprong pole spear as state if the art and were taking small reef fish,

I was able to find "Sport Fishing in Hawaii", and I hate to say I only read 3 pages on spearfishing. I have yet to read the whole book, but it is amazing to see the old regulations at the end of the book (at the time, you were only allowed to shoot sharks with firearms, not turtles). I did scan some pages about spear & tako (octopus) fishing onto my gallery... pretty interesting stuff. Thanks 21.